[p.35] Manila Times and even the Bulletin are trying to promote a fight between me and the media. Manila Times headlines the Nolan resignation, actually editorializing in that story.
Then, yesterday, the Bulletin carried the front page story of me keeping on with attacks on the press quoting my statement or speech read by VP [Fernando] Lopez in the Bureau of Plant Industry inauguration that “notwithstanding the critics, we have moved forward.” This was interpreted, I suppose, to mean that the press are critics or the only critics and should not be referred to with the slightest hint of derision.
My relations with the press in general, with the exception of the Malacañang boys, has soured since the inaugural speech.
They can dish it out but cannot take it.
Official Gazette for January 17, 1970: President Marcos spent the day in Malacañang, working at his desk in his private study. Among others, he went over the curriculum vitae of individuals being considered for appointment to various key positions in the government, including the judiciary. The President signed the ad interim appointments of four associate justices of the Court of Appeals and three district judges. The President also elevated Presiding Justice Julio Villamor of the Court of Appeals to associate justice of the Supreme Court and CA Associate Justice Salvador Esguerra to presiding justice of the appellate court, vice Villamor. Extended ad interim appointments as associate justices of the Court of Appeals were Undersecretary of Justice Felix Q. Antonio, Judges Jose N. Leuterio and Manuel P. Barcelona of the Manila court of first instance, and Judge Lourdes P. San Diego of the court of first instance of Rizal. Named ad interim district judges were:
1. Senior State Prosecutor Alejandro Sebastian for the 16th judicial district, to preside over the CFI of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental, Branch VIII, with official station at Tagum, Davao del Norte; 2. Sisenando Villaluz for the 15th judicial district, to preside over the CFI of Agusan del Sur, with station at Prosperidad; and 3. Judge Amado B. Reyes of the Cagayan Criminal Circuit Court, for the 5th judicial district, to preside over the CFI of Bataan, Branch II.
The President previously expressed his desire to fill up more than a hundred new judges and fiscals to clear crowded court dockets. He had directed Secretary of Justice Juan Ponce Emile to set up comprehensive criteria, embodying rigid requirements for nominees to the post of CFI judge and other members of the judiciary. The President has also directed Secretary Enrile to pinpoint how many more judges are needed in the CFI to improve and accelerate the administration of justice, in connection with the government’s peace and order campaign.
In the afternoon, the President motored to the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City where the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, is confined following a surgical operation to remove a benign cystic mass from the right chest wall. Before leaving Malacañang, the President signed the appointment of Col. Rafael G. Zagala as ad interim brigadier general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Zagala is area commander of the first military area. He also directed PC Chief Brig. Gen. Vicente Raval to investigate the departure of a private plane from Batanes even while the isolation of the province, which he had ordered last week, was in force. The President issued the order upon receipt of a report from Gov. Silvino Agudo that three of the suspected malefactors in connection with the November 11 polls had escaped in a private plane.
My erstwhile opponent, Sen. Sergio Osmeña [Jr.], has gone to see Pres. Suharto of Indonesia, and as reported by Ambassador [Modesto] Farolan, is determined to get the dormant concession of Brigido Valencia at Sumatra East Kalimantan belonging to Americans. Accompanied by a representative of Nissio-Iuwai, apparently the financier, this party surveyed the Sumatra concession of Valencia and apparently a favorable report submitted.
Osmeña bragging here, in Japan and the Philippines, that he can buy any Indonesian official. Apparently the funds to be used by the [Eleuterio] Adevoso group on their assassination [p.36] and take-over plans will come from Osmeña. Osmeña is also in touch with the groups that are preparing a revolution in Sabah and has been instrumental in the offer of Malaysian or Sabahan authorities in offering to Princess Tarhata and Sultan Ismail Kiram to buy out their claim to Sabah. They may sell only their private rights. But I have ordered Sec. [Carlos] Romulo to write a formal letter to Sultan Ismail Kiram that he has authorized the Philippine government to bargain for him and that he must not embarrass our government; and for Amb. [Romeo] Busuego to informally notify the Malaysian authorities that Sultan Kiram cannot bind the Philippine Government.
Deputy Premier Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia has announced a record US$267.7 million budget for defense and internal security of 25% of the total expenditure of US$1,080,130,000 for FY 1970. Defense budget for FY 1969 is US$132 M or 9.2% of total 1969 budget. Razak justified the increase with the British military withdrawal and the stepped up communist terrorist activities.
In Pakistan, 56 million registered to vote out of 125 million in Pakistan’s first general election scheduled 5 Oct. 1970.