News In Brief

Philippine court permits protest against US bases

The Philippines Supreme Court, ruling against the government of President Ferdinand Marcos, granted the opposition permission to stage a demonstration against US military bases. Tuesday's decision was the first to support an opposition petition against the government since Marcos declared martial law in 1972, legal sources said.

Former Sen. Jose Diokno, who leads the Anti-Bases Coalition, said the 10-to-1 decision will lead to more demonstrations against the Marcos government. The government said it denied permits for all opposition public rallies because communist terrorists planned to use the protests to stir up violence for which the government would be blamed.