Aquino Offers to Overlook Rebellion Bid : Requires Pledge of Loyalty, Will Tolerate No Further Outbreaks

MANILA —  President Corazon Aquino said today that she will forgive Arturo Tolentino and soldiers who backed his brief attempt to assume the presidency if they pledge loyalty, but that she will tolerate no further rebellion.

Her executive secretary, Joker Arroyo, said sedition charges might be filed if the offer is rejected. Tolentino’s passport was revoked temporarily, along with those of 24 other supporters of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who fled the country Feb. 26.

Tolentino could not be reached for comment. He has not returned telephone calls since the rebellion ended at dawn Tuesday.

He was the vice presidential candidate on the Marcos ticket in the Feb. 7 election, which was widely denounced as fraudulent both here and abroad. They were declared the winners and Marcos was sworn in hours before he fled, but Tolentino was not.

Marcos Denies Role

When the 75-year-old constitutional scholar declared himself president, he said he was acting on instructions from Marcos. The former president, who ruled the Philippines for 20 years, denied that from his exile home in Hawaii.

Aquino said she decided to be magnanimous because the rebellion was nonviolent and the rebels surrendered. She made clear, however, that she would put up with no more attempts by Marcos loyalists to undermine the government.

She said she would prohibit demonstrations “that are not truly an exercise of freedom of speech and assembly, but are designed to further the rebel cause.

‘Elections Soon’

“Certain people have trifled too long with the dignity and stability of the present government and the new constitutional order,” she declared, referring to weekly demonstrations by Marcos supporters who claim he still is president.

“There will be elections soon where you can test the continuing mandate of this government.”

She read her statement to reporters after a two-hour Cabinet meeting and would not answer questions.

Arroyo said Aquino does not intend to forbid all demonstrations by Marcos loyalists, but wants to make clear that she “will not allow a repetition” of the revolt.

Soldiers’ punishment: push-ups, Page 11.