News In Brief

New evidence on Aquino prompts exhumation move

The commission investigating Benigno Aquino's assassination decided Thursday to exhume the opposition leader's body to investigate new evidence that contradicts the government's official autopsy.

Pedro Solis, former deputy director for technical services of the National Bureau of Investigation, testified that metal fragments found in Aquino's jaw did not match the Magnum .357 bullet the military claims killed the opposition leader.

Commission member Luciano Salazar told reporters that retired Justice Corazon Agrava, the panel's chairman, had prepared a letter to Aquino's widow requesting permission to examine the remains.