The World : Soldier Blamed for Murder

A Philippine businesswoman said in a sworn statement that she saw a soldier shoot opposition leader Benigno S. Aquino Jr., the most direct eyewitness account to date, her lawyers said. “I saw a gun pointed at the back of the head of Mr. Aquino . . . ,” said Rebecca Quijano, 32, a passenger on the plane that returned Aquino to Manila. “A soldier in khaki immediately behind Sen. Aquino was the one who shot him.” She said she feared for her life and avoided the yearlong inquiry into the 1983 assassination that led to the current trial of 26, including the armed forces chief.