News In Brief

Aquino case panel discounts withdrawal of key testimony

A panel probing the murder of Philippines opposition leader Benigno Aquino said Thursday the alleged withdrawal of testimony by a key witness was a desperate attempt to discredit the panel.

Celso Loterina, a Philippine Airlines engineer, had sent a letter to the panel Wednesday saying he was withdrawing his testimony because the panel had not kept its promise to him of helping him emigrate to the US.

Meanwhile, more than 3,000 people demonstrated outside the United States Embassy here yesterday to protest against what they called the continued US intervention in the Philippines. They were also opposing a $630 million loan to the Philippines from the International Monetary Fund, declaring the loan the ''latest link in the country's chain of captivity to the US government.''