News In Brief

Military court sentnces 4 to death in rebellion case

A military court sentenced four people to death Tuesday after convicting them of conspiring to commit rebellion, allegedly with the aid of US-based dissidents. The court also found them guilty of six other charges, including conspiracy to assassinate President Marcos, his wife, Imelda, and some Cabinet ministers; arson; and illegal possession of explosives. The defendants had pleaded innocent when the trial opened in 1980.

They were without civilian counsel, although a military lawyer appointed by the court to represent them was present. The defendants had been without civilian lawyers since mid-1982 when their counsel walked out of the trial, protesting what they said were arbitrary and ''capricious'' court procedures.