PRESIDENT MARCOS; NEWSMEN; MRS. MARCOS; PRESIDENT SPEAKING.




Initials KM/VS/JF/MH



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Background: PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS OF THE PHILIPPINES OUTLINED HIS NEW ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES LAST THURSDAY (13 NOVEMBER) AFTER IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT HE WOULD WIN IN THE PREVIOUS TUESDAY'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS.

WITH NEARLY HALF THE ESTIMATE EIGHT MILLION VOTES COUNTED HE HELD A LEAD OF NEARLY A MILLION VOTES. MR. MARCOS TOLD NEWSMEN THAT THE PHILIPPINES HAD ALREADY AGREED TO START NEGOTIATIONS ON THE EXISTING PREFERENTIAL TRADE TREATY AFTER THE ELECTION RESULT IS KNOWN.

HE ADDED THAT THE PHILIPPINES WOULD CONTINUE ITS EXPERIMENT OF TRADING WITH SOME EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. ASKED IF HE WOULD CLOSE U.S. BASES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND END PREFERENTIAL TRADE WITH THE U.S. HE REPLIED THAT THESE WERE MATTERS FOR NEGOTIATION.

HE ADDED THAT HIS FOREIGN POLICY COUNCIL WOULD DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE 2,000 FILIPINO NON-COMBAT TROOPS IN VIETNAM. HE HAS ALREADY SAID HE WANTS TO WITHDRAW THEM.

THE OPPOSITION LIBERAL PARTY CHARGED THAT MARCOS' PARTY HAD SPENT 700 MILLION PESOS (ABOUT GBP70 MILLION STERLING) TO BUY VOTES. LIBERAL LEADER SERGIO OSMENA JR. CALLED TUESDAY'S ELECTIONS A FARCE AND ALLEGED THAT DURING THE FIVE DAY HOLIDAY THAT PRECEDED THE ELECTION, MARCOS AIDES EMPTIED THE VAULTS OF GOVERNMENT BANKS AND SHIFTED THE MONEY TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE FOR VOTE BUYING.