News In Brief

3 lawyers in Aquino inquiry refuse to aid in prosecution

Three of the four lawyers who helped an inquiry into the murder of Philippine opposition leader Benigno Aquino decided Tuesday not to help a government agency prosecute the case. One of the lawyers told Reuters they decided not to join the ombudsman's panel of prosecutors ''because we feel there is something fishy in this whole affair and they are going to make us scapegoats.''

On Sunday, President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the lawyers to help the ombudsman and said their refusal would encourage the belief that they did not believe the charges against those named.