News In Brief

Philippine Army ordered to stop its Aquino probe

Defense Minister Juan Ponce-Enrile Wednesday ordered the Philippines military to stop independent investigations into the killing of opposition leader Benigno Aquino.

The five-member commission contacted the ministry last week, after learning the military was conducting investigations despite President Ferdinand Marcos's designation of the panel as the official board of inquiry.

Corzon Agrava, the head of the commission, said in a letter to the defense minister that military investigators were ''scaring and possibly intimidating witnesses'' and ''obstructing the progress of our work, even if not so intended.''