Marcos transfers powers to interim Assembly

President Ferdinand Marcos formally transferred his legislative powers to the interim National Assembly, but warned he could reimpose the martial law he lifted on Saturday if there was a threat to national security. He also reaffirmed his pledge that elections would be held in 1984 for a full National Assembly to replace the present interim one.

Meanwhile, in six southern Philippine provinces, floodwaters churning 9 feet above riverbanks forced at least 165,000 people to abandon their homes and drowned at least 60 others, authorities said. The flooding, the worst in 19 years, was set off by heavy rains that began in December.