Some U.S. Officials Doubtful of Aquino Regime’s Survival

The White House, addressing the sensitive topic of the Aquino government’s hold on power in the Philippines, acknowledged Thursday that some U.S. officials are privately questioning whether the regime can survive the political and military unrest there.

“There are a lot of people willing to speculate to that effect in private,” said White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater, referring to an interview with a wire service reporter by an unidentified Administration official suggesting that President Corazon Aquino might be toppled.

“But on the record we would not speculate on that. She is a democratically elected leader. . . . We do not want to do anything to undermine her government.”

The conflict between the public and private assessments reflects the Administration’s effort to avoid contributing to a key ally’s problems while not wanting to appear naive about their severity.

Fitzwater, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as President Bush was flying to a fund-raising event in Houston, said that he could acknowledge only that “we have concerns, certainly,” about some of Aquino’s policies.

Even though most of the rebels who mounted a rebellion against her government last week have surrendered, questions remain about her ability to wage the government’s campaign against Communist rebels and to solidify loyalty in her armed forces.

At the State Department, officials held firm with uniformly supportive statements.

“It’s the President’s view and the secretary’s view (Secretary of State James A. Baker III) that Mrs. Aquino’s government has shown remarkable resilience in this situation,” said spokesman Richard Boucher. “We’ve stressed our unequivocal support for her democratically elected government. That’s our view.”