Aquino, Cabinet Swear Allegiance to New Constitution

Philippine President Corazon Aquino today called on her countrymen to “finally put aside the deeds of darkness” as she and her 27-member Cabinet swore allegiance to a new national constitution that allows her to remain president for the next five years.

“The night is over; the day is here,” Aquino announced in a brief speech this morning after the ceremony at the presidential palace.

She pledged to uphold a post-dictatorship charter that curtails many presidential powers and, she believes, will help stabilize her rule for the first time since she rose to power a year ago in a civilian-backed military revolt that toppled Ferdinand E. Marcos.

‘Unswerving Loyalty’

“One law now channels the unswerving loyalty of all Filipinos to democracy and its ways. . . . Let all Filipinos of good will offer each other the hand of peace and friendship,” Aquino said.

The constitution was overwhelmingly approved last week in a national referendum.

As Aquino spoke, military authorities were still counting the dead in the farming town of Lupao 90 miles north of Manila, where fierce fighting erupted Tuesday afternoon between Communist rebels and government troops.

The battle was the first major outbreak in the 18-year guerrilla war since a 60-day cease-fire expired Sunday.

The military reported that at least 18 people were killed, among them an army lieutenant and 12 civilians who were caught in the crossfire when soldiers encountered about 40 heavily armed guerrillas while on routine patrol.

Under a standing pursuit order from the military chief of staff, Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, a helicopter gunship chased the fleeing rebels into nearby villages, which are controlled by the Communist New People’s Army.

There was no independent confirmation of the military report, but at least one human rights organization condemned the government’s counterinsurgency campaign.

‘Deception, Terror’

The left-leaning Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates declared that the policy “utilizes deception and systematic terror.”

Aquino has said her government is leaving “the door open” to another round of peace negotiations with Communist leaders.

However, the guerrillas’ political front organization has alleged that Aquino lacks enough control over her military to negotiate in good faith.

Aquino nonetheless struck a note of optimism in her speech today.

In celebrating the outcome of the constitutional referendum, in which 87% of the nation’s 25 million voters turned out and gave her a 3-to-1 victory, Aquino declared that her nation will now be governed by “one political order” and “one duty.”

She ended her speech by quoting from the Bible: “Let us finally put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”