World Notes Philippines

Charges against General Fabian Ver, armed forces Chief of Staff and cousin of Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, who has been the central figure in an eight-month-long conspiracy trial, could soon be dismissed. Ver and 25 others stand accused in connection with the assassination of Opposition Leader Benigno ("Ninoy") Aquino on Aug. 21, 1983. In June a trial court threw out the major evidence against Ver and seven of his military colleagues. Most of that evidence was based on the defendants' testimony in April 1984 before a civilian fact-finding panel. Last week the Supreme Court upheld that decision.

The court ruled, in a 10-to-3 vote, that use of the testimony would violate constitutional protections against self-incrimination because the men had not been read their rights. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Claudio Teehankee argued that to have warned such high-ranking officers of their rights "would have been ridiculous, if not bordering on officiousness and impropriety." Since his own testimony is the most damning evidence against Ver, last week's ruling is widely expected to result in his acquittal.