Aquino’s Uncle, Nephew Visit Marcos; May Negotiate Return

MANILA —  President Corazon Aquino said today she sent two relatives to meet Ferdinand Marcos in Hawaii, and her ousted predecessor said he wants to negotiate his return.

Aquino said she is not ready to let Marcos come back, but a senator hinted that Marcos may be allowed to come home if he swears allegiance to the government and meets other terms.

Presidential spokesman Teodoro Benigno told reporters that Aquino recently sent her uncle, Rep. Francisco Sumulong, and cousin, Rep. Egmidio Tanjuatco, to meet with Marcos at his exile home in Honolulu.

“Go there and listen. If we can listen to other people, why can’t we listen to Mr. Marcos, who said that he had an important message to send,” Benigno quoted Aquino as telling her relatives.

In Honolulu, Marcos issued a statement today saying:

“We are ready to appoint our representatives to negotiate the details and conditions under which my family and I shall return to the Philippines for the salvation of the country from the bloody takeover by communist insurgents.”

Commends Government

The statement commended the Aquino government for inviting “all political factions to organize one united political structure” and congratulated the Aquino government for existing as long as it has.

Aquino has banned Marcos and his immediate family from returning to the Philippines. Asked by reporters today whether she would let Marcos return, she replied “not yet.” She refused to elaborate.

But Sen. Neptali Gonzales, a former justice minister in the Aquino government, told reporters Marcos might be allowed to return if he swears allegiance to the administration and settles claims that he stole billions of dollars from the treasury during his 20-year rule.