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Marcos Flies to Honolulu

Marcos Flies to Honolulu
Marcos Flies to Honolulu; Aquino Bars Extradition
Los Angeles Times
February 26, 1986
After more than 20 years as president of the Philippines, Ferdinand E. Marcos fled his country in 1986 following a rebellion by military leaders and civilians. This article from the Los Angeles Times discusses Marcos's move to Hawaii and the implications of his refuge there.
From Times Wire Services
Honolulu—Ousted Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos arrived in Hawaii today to take up at least temporary residence in exile two days after being forced to leave his island nation after 20 years in power.
In Manila, meanwhile, President Corazon Aquino said she would not try to extradite Marcos, saying, “I have said I can be magnanimous in victory.” Her government also announced plans for a general amnesty.
The U.S. Air Force C-141 transport carrying Marcos and his family to Hawaii landed at Hickam Air Force Base at 12:42 p.m. PST. The plane carried the party of 89 including his wife, Imelda, three children and three grandchildren from Anderson Air Force Base in Guam earlier in the day.
Carried on Stretcher
Marcos had been carried on a stretcher for his flight from the Philippines to the U.S.-administered Pacific island Tuesday but appeared to have recovered his strength when he left Guam today.
The former strongman, who surrendered power Tuesday and was flown out of the country in a U.S. Air Force jet, “looked very well rested and in good spirits, as was (Imelda) Marcos,” said acting Gov. Edward D. Reyes of Guam, who saw the ex-president's party off.
Marcos was taking up refuge in the United States, which asked him to step down Monday after a rebellion by top Filipino military leaders, who joined with hundreds of thousands of civilians to drive him from the country.
Security Beefed Up
An extra detachment of Marines had augmented normal security at Anderson Air Force Base for Marcos' departure from Guam because of telephoned threats against him and his family. Reporters were barred from the base, as was Philippine Consul General Carlos Martinez.
Among the passengers on board the U.S. Air Force C-141 StarLifter for the eight-hour flight to Hickam were Marcos' former military chief of staff, Gen. Fabian Ver, and Ver's wife.
Officials said they do not know how long the Marcos party would remain at Hickam or where they planned to go from there. But White House spokesman Larry Speakes said there have been discussions of the possibility of Marcos' staying in Hawaii.
No Hospital Plans
A Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Cmdr. Chris Baumann, said it “would be a good, educated guess that he (Marcos) would remain in Hawaii for some time.”
There had been reports that Marcos might seek medical attention in Hawaii, but Maj. Virginia Pribyla, spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Command, said today that she knows of no plans for Marcos to go to Tripler Army Medical Center, the state's only military hospital.
Speakes said Marcos had his personal physician with him and “seems to be regaining his strength.” Marcos, 68, reportedly suffers from degenerative kidney disease, and a dialysis machine was found in his palace when it was overrun by Aquino supporters Tuesday.
Familiar Territory
Marcos' flight to Hawaii brought him to familiar territory. He visited here six times in the last 20 years—most recently in 1982. His wife also has visited the islands, either with her husband or alone.
Marcos is a good friend of Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi. The two have met frequently, during Marcos' visits here and Ariyoshi's to the Philippines, to discuss the Pacific situation. Ariyoshi said Tueday that he is “making a plea to the citizens of Hawaii that we make accommodation” if Marcos decides to live in Hawaii.
The ousted president also is a close friend of two Philippine businessmen who own luxurious homes in Honolulu where the Marcoses have stayed on several of their trips. It was also believed that Marcos himself owns property in Hawaii.
Both supporters and opponents in Hawaii said Marcos would not be in danger there.
“We've got some people here who hate him, but I think he'd be safe,” said Francisco Ugale, president of the United Filipino Council of Hawaii and publisher of Hawaii Filipino News.
“Most of us backed him up from before,” he said. “I've got no hard feelings toward him. I don't think he created all the problems.”
Tomas Gomez III, an outspoken critic of Marcos, said, “Nobody is going to bother him here.”
It would not be the first time a toppled leader has settled in Hawaii. Cambodia's Lon Nol went there in 1975, shortly before his government fell. He moved in 1979 to California, where he died last year.

Source: Los Angeles Times, February 26, 1986.
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