Marcos Faces Arrest if He Returns for Rites, Manila Warns

The government threatened Monday to arrest former President Ferdinand E. Marcos if he returns from exile in Hawaii for his sister’s funeral or for Christmas.

The army, meanwhile, reported its first clash with Communist rebels since a 60-day cease-fire began Wednesday.

It said about 100 New People’s Army rebels fired automatic rifles Monday at a 19-man patrol on Panay Island, about 235 miles south of Manila. Col. Benigno Casio said by telephone from Iloilo that troops returned fire and drove off the rebels without suffering any casualties.

No Request From Marcos

The unanimous decision to bar Marcos was taken at an emergency Cabinet meeting called after the death Sunday of Marcos’ youngest sister, Elizabeth Marcos-Keon, 65.

Presidential spokesman Teodoro Benigno said Marcos had not asked to return, but if he did, the request would be denied.

Benigno cited compelling national interest as the reason the Cabinet decided to bar Marcos’ return. He called Marcos “a disturbing element.”

Before his sister’s death, Marcos had expressed hope that “a miracle” would let him spend Christmas in his homeland. Meanwhile, President Corazon Aquino ordered government peace negotiator Teofisto Guingona to take up the truce incident with the National Cease-Fire Monitoring Committee. Guingona declined to say if it was a serious truce violation.