| The Straits Times (Singapore), October 4, 1998 MANILA -- Calls for Malaysia to free former Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim intensified in the Philippines yesterday with President Joseph Estrada urging Filipinos to support his detained friend. Mr Estrada said Anwar "should be loved by Filipinos", not only because he is his "personal friend" but also because he "was the one who endorsed our national hero Jose Rizal as a Malay". A congressman, meanwhile, said the Philippine government should request Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Mahathir to allow "an observer team of parliamentarians" from the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) to attend Anwar's trial as well as visit him in prison. Such a move "will assure the international community of transparency of proceedings", said Congressman Heherson Alvarez, himself a human-rights victim during the 20-year reign of ousted Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos. He said "it is only but proper that Anwar be accorded a fair, just and transparent trial", noting he was a "symbol of young Asean leaders on the rise" before his arrest. Former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte said despite Asean's non-interference policy, "you could see that there is so much empathy in so far as what is happening to Anwar Ibrahim is concerned". The local media has compared Dr Mahathir to Mr Marcos. Anwar and Mr Estrada's friendship began when the latter was a senator in the 80s, reports say. Anwar was reportedly the first foreigner on Estrada's guest list when he was inaugurated as President on June 30. AFP |