Minister Jose Conrado Benitez says he welcomes the Batasan investigation of the charges made against him "so as to be able to clear his name and that of his family" (Special Edition, Mar. 22-28).

Mr. Benitez should show more faith in the sense of justice innate in our people. The general public can and does distinguish between the individual on trial and his family.

For instance, our people have extended to the family of Gen. Prospero Olivas the kind of sympathy we accord to a family which some misfortune has befallen. Even those citizens convinced of the general's complicity in the Aquino-Galmian murders have not allowed this belief to change their attitude toward the general's late father, the hero after whom Camp Olivas was named. No one has suggested that the camp be renamed.

The military which is not exactly the most sophisticated sector of our society, can make such a distinction. The officers and men who swear that Rolando Galman killed Sen. Benigno Aquino have never suggested that the Galman family was involved in this or in other crimes.

Mr. Benitez can rest assured that even if he is convicted, the good name of his family will not be compromised.

JORDAN DY

P.S. I hasten to assure the Olivas and Galman families that when I compared General Olivas and the late Mr. Calman with Mr. Benitez, I meant no offense.