Enrile: "I Am Not Speaking Out of Turn"

Late last week Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile talked with TIME Hong Kong Bureau Chief William Stewart on the terrace of Enrile's home in Manila's exclusive Dasmarinas Village. Excerpts from the interview:

On his criticism of Aquino. Actually, I am not criticizing Mrs. Aquino. Far from it. Nor am I speaking out of turn as a member of the Cabinet. Our government is not the constitutional government that you have in America. What we have is a revolutionary government. Mrs. Aquino was the constitutionally elected President of the Philippines for only one month, from Feb. 25 to March 25 of this year. When she took her oath of office as President of the Philippines, it was the perception of everyone that she was taking power by virtue of her election. On March 25 she decided to organize a revolutionary government. In effect, she discarded the 1973 constitution, under which she had been governing for one month, and opted to convert herself into a revolutionary President by issuing what is now known as the Freedom Constitution. This changed the picture totally. I argued against it. I have witnesses to this effect.

On dissolving the National Assembly. That was one of the major errors committed by President Marcos when he declared martial law in 1972. I was hoping that experience would not be repeated by Mrs. Aquino.

On the military's role in the revolution. We mounted a military revolt against President Marcos. The people supported us, as we expected. The leaders of the opposition were not there; they only appeared on the last day. At that point we had complete control of the republic's military organization, except for a few units. President Marcos was already dealing with us. He was not dealing with the opposition. We could have effectively run the country at that point. In fact, we were exercising governmental powers. Only then did they (the opposition) appear at our camp. We readily and willingly transferred power to them. Do you think they could have stood as a government if the military had not recognized them as a government?

I have been stating the facts in order to establish this for our honor, so that someday, when somebody is writing about that episode in our history, they will know what actually happened.

On his plans. If I am asked to resign, I'll have to consult the people who asked me to represent them in the government. First, the record must show that Mrs. Aquino did not in fact give me a job. I was holding the position before she took her oath of office. Second, I was holding a position even higher than that of Minister of Defense. We were in control of the government.

On possible U.S. interference. This is a Philippine problem, and America does not have a right to tell us what to do. I respect America, but there are limits to what one country can do to another internally.

On the government's future. There should be no fear on the part of anybody about the stability of the government if it is really stable. If there is any instability, it is not because of us but because of their (Aquino's and her closest associates') inability to show leadership, to really direct and defend the nation.