Pair Arrested in Manila Killings

Police today arrested two men, including a one-time Muslim separatist leader close to ousted ruler Ferdinand E. Marcos, in the killings of a key member of President Corazon Aquino’s Cabinet and his driver.

Police said Amelil Malaquiok, alias Cmdr. Rony, was believed to be the brains behind the assassination of Local Governments Secretary Jaime Ferrer, 70, and his driver in the Manila suburb of Paranaque on Sunday.

The other suspect was identified as Gerry Justo, 21. Police said witnesses identified him as one of three gunmen who attacked Ferrer as he was returning from church.

Metropolitan Manila Gov. Jejomar Binay said the Ferrer slaying was part of a grand design to overthrow Aquino, who has survived four coups and mutinies by Marcos supporters since assuming power in a February, 1986, civilian-backed military revolt.

Malaquiok is a former leader in the Moro National Liberation Front, which has waged a 15-year war for Muslim self-rule in the Mindanao-Sulu region 500 miles south of Manila. However, he is known to have defected to the Marcos government when Marcos gave him logging concessions in a bid to divide the rebel leadership.

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