The Philippines Purging Marcos' Legacy

Amid murmurs of discontent, Aquino assumes sweeping new powers

Exactly one month after becoming President, Corazon Aquino appeared last week, clad in her trademark yellow, to announce her agenda for reviving democracy in the Philippines. Scrapping the 1973 constitution introduced by her predecessor, Ferdinand Marcos, and dissolving the effectively powerless National Assembly dominated by Marcos' followers, she imposed a provisional constitution that allows her to rule by decree until a new charter is agreed upon. Within 60 days, Aquino promised, she will appoint a committee to draft a fresh constitution. Three months after that, she hopes to put the document to a national plebiscite. If all goes well, a new...

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