News In Brief

Aquino commission cuts short its US hearings

A Philippines board of inquiry investigating the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino cut short its hearings here Friday because a series of witnesses had refused to give evidence, the board general counsel said.

The counsel, Andres Narvasa, said he had been told that members of Mr. Aquino's family living in the United States had refused to recognize the validity of the board. A former Philippines Army major living in the US who had said he had inside knowledge of the assassination also would not give evidence, Mr. Narvasa said.