Airliner Bound for Manila Searched for Imelda Marcos

HONOLULU — Philippine Airlines officials searched a Manila-bound Boeing 747 this morning for Imelda Marcos amid rumors that the former Philippine first lady planned to leave the country.

“I believe Imelda Marcos and a large entourage are leaving on a 3 a.m. Philippine Airlines flight,” an anonymous caller said in an early-morning telephone call to the Associated Press.

Shortly before 3 a.m., a group of 30 Filipinos assembled in front of Honolulu International Airport’s main terminal. A black limousine arrived and Imelda Marcos emerged, escorted by several of the Marcoses’ top aides.

After a minute of picture-taking, she got back into the limousine and left.

Marcos spokesman Gemmo Trinidad, who was at the airport, said Marcos had been picking up a visitor, but he would not elaborate.

Over the weekend, Marcos called reporters to her home to make a tearful plea that her daughter, Imee, be allowed to return to the United States from Morocco. She asked that U.S. officials dismiss a warrant for Imee Marcos Manotoc’s arrest, issued after she declined to obey a court order to testify in a grand jury investigation.