Marcos Says He’s Still President, Calls Aquino Rule ‘Dictatorship’

HONOLULU —  Deposed Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos, breaking a monthlong silence, said Sunday he still considers himself president of his nation and denounced the new government of Corazon Aquino as “a plain and simple dictatorship.”

After Easter Mass at their temporary beachfront home on the outskirts of Honolulu, Marcos and his wife, Imelda, held a brief news conference where he was asked if he still thinks of himself as president of the Philippines.

“Of course,” Marcos responded, although he said his lawyers have asked him not to comment on the matter because of possible impending legal action.

Friends of Marcos in Hawaii originally had planned an Easter picnic for 1,000 people, but it was canceled late Saturday night because planners could not secure a permit from city officials. There were also problems in finding a site large enough to accommodate a crowd of that size and providing adequate security.

Asked by reporters Sunday what he thinks of the new Aquino government, Marcos said: “I don’t think it’s something that requires a little study. It’s just a plain and simple dictatorship.”

Marcos also said he does not know whether he and his wife will settle permanently in the United States.

“Our plans are all in a state of confusion. I plan to rest, write, and sleep--and eat well,” said Marcos, who looked healthy in a dark blue three-piece suit.

“I have put on two pounds in Hawaii,” Marcos said, adding he feels quite well except for “a little cold.”

Imelda Marcos, dressed in a dark green dress, looked sad and said almost nothing during the news conference. Asked how she felt, the former First Lady replied only, “Homesick.”

After the Easter Mass, she broke down and sobbed when a member of a singing group embraced her and sang the traditional folk song, “I Am Filipino.”

The Easter Mass was celebrated by Father Clarence Fisher, pastor of nearby Holy Trinity Church, in the lanai area of the home the Marcoses leased two weeks ago.

During the hourlong service, car horns protesting the family’s stay could be heard from the roadway fronting the house.

Two grandchildren sat on Imelda Marcos’ lap, and a third paraded in front of the altar several times during the Mass. The guests were spread out along the backyard lawn.