One of the convicted soldiers in the assassination of former Philippine Senator "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. said on Thursday that business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, and not former President Ferdinand Marcos, was behind the 1983 assassination plot, according to local television network ABS-CBN News.

In an affidavit submitted to the Public Attorney's Office, former Master Sergent Pablo Martinez said he had personal knowledge of the Aquino murder plot.

Aquino was gunned down when stepping down from his plane from the United States on Aug. 21, 1983 at the Manila international airport. His killing sparked a series of protests that eventually brought the downfall of former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Martinez said he was tasked by Col. Romeo Ochoco, then deputy commander of the defunct Aviation Security Command General Romeo Gatan and a certain Herminio Gosueco to help in the assassination.

He claimed that he was ordered to escort military-tagged assassin Rolando Golman into the Manila international airport, adding that Gatan, Gosueco and Golman were all men of Cojuangco, the biggest shareholder of world-known beer brewery San Miguel.

Martinez said former President Marcos was not behind the assassination and Marcos even wanted Aquino to succeed the presidency after his term expired. But people around Marcos did not agree to the idea of letting Aquino succeed.

The entourage of Cojuangco has denied the allegation.

The Philippine government Wednesday put up yellow flags paintedwith the portrait of Aquino along the most important thoroughfare of Manila, the Roxas Boulevard, to commemorate the assassination anniversary.

The wife of "Ninoy" Aquino, Cory Aquino, became president afterMarcos was toppled.

Source: Xinhua