CONGRESSMAN CONCERNED ABOUT REAGAN PHILIPPINES TRIP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505400014-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: September 13, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/09: CIA-RDP90-00552R000505400014-4
ASSOCIATED PRESS
13 September 1983
WASHINGTON
CONGRESSMAN CONCERNED ABOUT REAGAN PHILIPPINES TRIP'
BY SUSANNE M. SCHAFER
A House subcommittee chairman said Tuesday he had "grave reservations" about
President Reaaan's planned trip to the Philippines in the wake of the
assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr.
Rep. Stephen J. Solari, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, said his concerns were based upon
reported death threats alleged to have been made against the president to the
U.S. Embassy in Manila. He also said he was concerned about the possible
political impact the president's visit might have.
Reagan is to visit the Philippines in November as part of an Asian tour.
Solari visited the Philippines several days before Aquino's assassination Aug.
21 .
"I would certainly have very grave reservations," because of the alleged
death threats, Solari said.
He spoke with reporters after receiving a closed briefing from the Central
Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the
assassination and after chairing a subcommittee hearing on the matter.
During the hearing, a State Department official refused to comment publicly
on Solarz's repeated questions about a published report by columnist jack
Anderson that the U.S. Embassy in Manila has received several death threats.
John C. Monjo, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific
affairs, asked instead if he could submit a classified report on the matter to
the subcommittee.
"There have been reports of possible demonstrations, there have been reports
of possible activity," Monjo said. "I would like to submit a classified report
on this."
"I gather there must have been some (death threats), otherwise I would assume
that if there hadn't been, they would have said so," Solari said after the
hearing.
TED
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/09: CIA-RDP90-00552R000505400014-4