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Other critics have questioned whether the government prosecutors, under the direction of Ombudsman Bernardo Fernandez, tried hard enough to build a case. Fernandez has been sharply criticized for not asking the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision to disallow Ver's testimony, since the general's own words were not only the basis for his indictment but constituted the strongest evidence against him. The prosecution has also failed to follow up important leads. Among them: six sealed affidavits from U.S. military personnel alleging that Philippine air force officers had sent two F-5 jet fighters in an unsuccessful effort to intercept the China Airlines flight carrying Aquino to Manila. The attempt indicates that other military men may have known of the plot to kill Aquino, lending weight to charges that Ver engaged in a cover-up.
Against that background of suspicion and recrimination, Marcos was evidently not eager to hear one more lecture from the U.S. ANOTHER MEDDLER FROM U.S. ARRIVES, headlined the progovernment Metro Manila Times. Said Adrian Cristobal, Marcos' spokesman: "I don't know if Laxalt himself meddled, but the way the U.S. media had played up his visit, it's kind of meddling." Marcos, who last week saw his wife Imelda off on a visit to the U.S., said that he and Laxalt were in agreement "that the Philippines will have to take care of its national interests." The Times was more direct. Its headline the day of Laxalt's departure: GOOD RIDDANCE?