The Philippines Show of Faith

It was a week of stormy weather. First a typhoon deluged Manila, then Washington criticized President Corazon Aquino for not being tough enough on Communist insurgents. And there were new rumblings from negotiators for the rebels, who warned that government statements were threatening the month-old cease-fire talks. President Aquino found a patch of political sunshine, however, in a historic agreement with Muslim Leader Nur Misuari to pursue autonomy for the 5 million Muslims in the southern Philippines.

The unexpected U.S. criticism came only two weeks before Aquino's first official visit to Washington. Unnamed White House sources told the New York Times that Aquino should take tougher action against the Communist Party's military wing, the New People's Army, which has more than 20,000 members. Aquino, who has vowed to exhaust all peaceful efforts before resorting to force, responded, "It is I who will decide just what we will do in this country."

The President demonstrated her resolve by not holding the negotiations with Misuari in Malacanang Palace but instead flying to Jolo, a Muslim stronghold in the Sulu Island chain 600 miles south of Manila. Misuari, leader of the separatist Moro National Liberation Front, has headed the Philippine Muslims' struggle for independence for the past 14 years from self-imposed exile in the Middle East. Following a two-hour meeting in a heavily guarded Roman Catholic convent, the two leaders agreed to hold talks that are expected to focus on Muslim autonomy in the south. Aquino told Misuari at one point, "Faith has brought me here." Referring to his exile, Misuari declared, "I traveled 7,000 miles . . . to give peace a chance."

In Manila, cease-fire talks between the government and the Communists were less amiable. The rebels denounced Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, a Marcos regime holdover who makes no secret of his distrust of the Communists, for revealing "distorted versions of our proposals." Enrile has publicly stated that the Communist negotiators are demanding what amounts to the status of a separate and equal government in the discussions, claiming the right to represent the Filipino people in the talks. The rebels deny making such demands. In any case, most observers do not foresee the talks with the Communists leading to a quick settlement. Says one foreign diplomat in Manila: "Aquino will become more hardheaded, and the Communists will milk the talks for all they can get."