The World - News from March 13, 1987

Philippines President Corazon Aquino announced that her controversial executive secretary and closest adviser, Joker Arroyo, will leave the government after an undetermined transition period. Arroyo, 59, was considered the second-most powerful person in the government after Aquino, but government sources say the military has demanded his ouster for months because of his left-wing views and alleged administrative incompetence. No replacement was named immediately. Meanwhile, government television reported that Communist “hit squads” have drawn up a death list of senior officials in an effort to destabilize the government.