M
CONFIDENTIAL
FM MANILA
TO DESKBY 1409OOZ F C O
TELNO 392
OF 14053OZ SEPTEMBER 87
CONFIDENTIAL
060051 MDHIAN 2767
HkB 027/7 027/7 (102
LORD GLENARTHUR'S VISIT: SUMMARY.
1.
SETTING THE SCENE.
CABINET CHANGES IN OFFING. ARMED FORCES WAITING TO SEE IF THEIR WISHES WILL BE MET. THE REBEL COLONEL HONASAN STILL AT LARGE. COMMUNIST INSURGENTS ACTIVE, MOSLEM SEPARATISTS QUIET. SOME STRIKES AND PRICE RISES. CONGRESS TRYING TO REDUCE DEBT SERVICE. FOREIGN AID
ON OFFER.
DETAIL.
2.
"
LORD GLENARTHUR WILL FIND THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT IN SOME DISARRAY PRESIDENT AQUINO ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO ANNOUNCE IN STAGES WHICH OF THE 9 SEPTEMBER CABINET RESIGNATIONS SHE WOULD ACCEPT. BUT SHE HAS NOW DECIDED TO ANNOUNCE ALL CHANGES TOGETHER. SHE SEEMS TO BE HAVING TROUBLE FORMING A NEW TEAM AND IT MAY TAKE HER SEVERAL DAYS, AS HAPPENED AFTER THE LAST COLLECTIVE RESIGNATION IN NOVEMBER 1986. SOME CANDIDATES SOUNDED OUT FOR OFFICE ARE SHOWING RELUCTANCE. EVERYONE EXPECTS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY ARROYO TO GO OR BE GIVEN SOME FACE-SAVING JOB. HIS DEPARTURE WOULD DEPRIVE THE PRESIDENT OF AN IMPORTANT EMOTIONAL PROP.
3. UNDER THE 1987 CONSTITUTION, NEW CABINET APPOINTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO SENATE APPROVAL. SOME SENATORS ARE SAYING THIS SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO EXISTING CABINET MEMBERS WHO ARE RE-APPOINTED, EG FINANCE MINISTER ONGPIN, WHO IS ACCUSED OF FAVOURING FOREIGN CREDITORS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE NATIONAL INTEREST. THE ARMED FORCES (AFP) ARE AWAITING DEVELOPMENTS WITH RAISED EXPECTATIONS. IN HIS TOUR OF ARMY COMMANDS VICE-PRESIDENT LAUREL HAS ASKED LOADED QUESTIONS, SUCH AS WHO IN THE CABINET AND THE AFP HIGH COMMAND SHOULD BE CHANGED, SHOULD COMMUNISTS BE REMOVED FROM GOVERNMENT, AND SHOULD SALARIES OF SOLDIERS BE INCREASED. LAUREL IS CLEARLY TRYING TO PRESERVE HIS FUTURE CHE WOULD BECOME PRESIDENT IF MRS AQUINO DEPARTED). HE MAY INCIDENTALLY THINK IT PRUDENT TO SHORTEN HIS PLANNED TRIP TO THE UN AND EUROPE
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