Arrest of Ver and 25 Others Ordered in Aquino Slaying

A court today ordered the arrest of Gen. Fabian Ver, armed forces chief to deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos, and 25 other people whose acquittals in the 1983 assassination of Benigno S. Aquino Jr. were overturned by the Supreme Court last week.

Ver, who fled into exile with Marcos in Hawaii in February, and another officer who fled cannot be tried in absentia.

Authorities began rounding up the other suspects and acting chief prosecutor Jose Ferrer said more suspects may be charged. Three witnesses are to be questioned Wednesday, he said.

The court also recommended that 17 defendants charged with direct roles in the Aug. 21, 1983, assassination of the opposition leader be jailed without bond. They could face the death penalty if convicted.

The Supreme Court declared a mistrial in the Aquino murder case Friday and ordered that a retrial be held with “dispatch.” The high court concluded that Marcos had ordered a “sham” trial.

The presiding justice of the anti-graft court known as the Sandiganbayan cited the Supreme Court action today in ordering law enforcement agencies to serve arrest warrants on the 26 defendants acquitted by the same court in December.

Two principals, Philippine Constabulary Sgt. Rogelio Moreno and Constable 1st Class Mario Lazaga, were arrested late today at the headquarters of the Capital Command by Chief Brig. Gen. Ramon Montano.

The two were among Aquino’s escort when he was murdered at the Manila airport on his return from three years of exile in the United States.

Besides Ver, those ordered arrested again were retired Maj. Gen. Prospero Olivas, who conducted the original military investigation of the Aquino slaying, another general currently under house arrest, 22 other soldiers and civilian businessman Hermilio Gosuico.

Ver escaped to Hawaii with Marcos in February at the height of a civilian-backed military revolt, and another soldier, Capt. Felipe Valerio, fled to the United States in April. The Philippines has no extradition treaty with the United States.