Aquino Opens Campaign for New Constitution

NAGA, Philippines —  President Corazon Aquino launched a nationwide campaign Saturday for a new constitution, declaring that the document will secure democracy and block the rise of another dictator.

Farther south, ousted Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile called for rejection of the constitution. Before a meeting of the opposition Nationalist Party, he branded Aquino’s government a “dictatorship, no more, no less.”

Aquino kicked off a monthlong campaign for Feb. 2 ratification of the constitution in the cities of Legaspi, on the slopes of Mayon volcano, and Naga, about 200 miles south of Manila in the hilly coconut-producing Bicol region.

The region voted overwhelmingly for Aquino in her Feb. 7, 1986, election challenge against President Ferdinand E. Marcos less than three weeks before his overthrow in a civilian-backed military revolt.

‘Yes for Democracy’

“This yes vote is a yes for democracy,” Aquino told 5,000 supporters at the Legaspi plaza where yellow banners hung from trees and balloons read, “Yes for Cory, Yes for Peace, Yes for the Constitution.”

“This yes is for our children so that they can live in freedom forever, so that we shall never have another dictator again,” she said.

Aquino and an entourage of Cabinet officials flew later on the blue-and-white presidential helicopter to Naga to address a rally of about 10,000 supporters and have lunch with 1,500 local civic, political and business leaders.

The government has sought to portray ratification of the new constitution as a vote for a restoration of democracy and an endorsement of Aquino’s mandate.

Abolished 1973 Constitution

Aquino abolished the 1973 Marcos-tailored constitution a month after taking office and has since ruled under an interim charter that gives her broad executive powers. Drafted by a hand-picked commission, the new constitution would give Aquino a six-year term to 1992, provide constitutional legitimacy for her government, and establish a U.S.-style legislature to be elected in May.

Aquino’s opponents have said she should step down and call elections if Filipinos reject the document. Presidential spokesmen predict that 65% of voters will back it.

Enrile, fired in November in the wake of a suspected military coup plot, spoke in Zamboanga on the second day of a five-day campaign across the strife-torn southern island of Mindanao.