Aquino Won’t Let Marcos Attend Mother’s Funeral

President Corazon Aquino today barred exiled former ruler Ferdinand E. Marcos from returning to attend his mother’s funeral in the Philippines, saying sentiment must yield to national security.

Aquino suggested that the return of the deposed strongman, whom she has linked to several coup plots against her, might provoke political disturbances.

Hours earlier, Marcos’ 95-year-old mother, Josefa Edralin Marcos, died in a government hospital of what doctors called “multiple organ failure.”

Her son has lived in exile in Hawaii since he was toppled in a popular coup in February, 1986.

Blast at ‘Neo-Barbarians’

Opposition groups and Marcos’ relatives had urged Aquino to allow her foe’s return from Hawaii for humanitarian reasons, and her rejection provoked Marcos lawyer Rafael Recto to call the government “neo-barbarians.”

“‘They acted as though they never had mothers,” he said in a telephone interview.

Recto said he had been swamped with calls from Marcos loyalist groups, voicing anger at Aquino’s decision, and said it could lead to massive street protests.

“This decision goes against our deep-seated tradition that we should bury our parents, even if we have to come from the moon,” Recto said.

‘Might Spark More Fire’

Sen. Ernesto Maceda, a member of Aquino’s ruling coalition, called Aquino’s decision “un-Christian.”

“Instead of achieving national reconciliation, this might just spark more fire,” he said.

Vice President Salvador Laurel said Aquino should have allowed Marcos to return, noting that Filipinos place great importance on family ties and honoring the dead.

Aquino was unyielding, saying on national television that “values involving national security and the common good” must take precedence over “respect and love for our parents.”

‘Not ... Too Many Options’

Later, in a discussion with reporters, Aquino described her decision as “difficult” but added: “I really did not have too many options.”

Marcos’ spokesman in Hawaii, Arturo Aruiza, said the man who ruled the country for 20 years burst into tears on hearing that his mother had died. He said Marcos will not insist on returning.

“Even if we wanted to, what can we do? We are virtual prisoners here,” Aruiza said in a radio interview from Hawaii, where the 70-year-old Marcos has been living since being toppled in a civilian-backed military revolt in 1986.