[p.69] Poor Banjo Raval (Gen. Vicente Raval) the Chief of PC [Philippine Constabulary]. He is one of the most loyal of the officers in the Armed Forces. I have asked him to seek relief as PC Chief. Instead of Gen. Eduardo Garcia, I may have to put Gen. [Felizardo] Tanabe temporarily.
I intend to make a sweeping reorganization of the cabinet, financing institutions and the tax collecting offices. So I meet with the Development Council tomorrow to chart the program on social legislation. This will include price and rent control, special funds for peace and order and for land reform. Housing and resettlement must receive priority attention.
Have met with Labor Leader Ignacio Lacsina (NATU [National Association of Trade Unions]), Peasant leader Felixberto Olalia [Sr.] (Masaka) and Kabataan Makabayan leader Carlos del Rosario brought in by Sec. Blas Ople. They have asked a
Official Gazette for February 6, 1970:
President Marcos met with former Ambassador Amelito R. Mutuc who, along with seven of his nine children, staged a “demonstration at the freedom Park in front of Malacañang.“ I was just showing my children, Mr. President, how to conduct a peaceful demonstration,” the former ambassador informed the President who had invited him up the Palace upon learning of the “demonstration.” Earlier, the President received a large delegation composed of officers and members of different veterans organizations who formally pledged support to various government programs. Headed by Col. Simeon Medalla and Col. Agustin Marking, president and executive vice president, respectively, of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, the delegation also presented a resolution adopted by the VFP Supreme Council in a meeting on Feb. 2 reiterating their faith in the leadership of President Marcos.
Among the President’s other callers were Mayor Amelia Gordon of Olongapo City and Placido Real, Jr., who was accompanied by Manuel R. Benedicto. Mayor Gordon submitted to the President for approval the master plan for the development of Olongapo City along modern lines, calculated to make the city less dependent on the United States naval base in Subic. According to Mayor Gordon, implementation of the plan will make the people less dependent for their livelihood on the U. S. naval base. She foresees the development of Subic as another free port like Mariveles in the event the U.S. relinquished it to the Philippine government. The other callers, Placido Real, an Ilocano writer, and Manuel R. Benedicto, a local business executive, presented the President with 500 copies of the book “Ferdinand Edralin Marcos,” written in Ilocano by Real and published by the firm headed by Benedicto. Among the actions taken by the President in the afternoon was the designation of Undersecretary of National Defense Alejandro Melchor as spokesman on defense and military matters. He also directed Secretary of Justice Juan Ponce Enrile, Jr. to investigate reports of an alleged kidnapping of a young labor union leader by Philippine Constabulary soldiers last January 26. The President further directed the Justice Secretary to immediately prosecute the parties responsible if the alleged facts were confirmed to be true.
Next day, contrary to Diary entry, FM appointed named Brig. Gen. Eduardo Garcia, commander of the First Infantry (Tabak) Division, to succeed Raval as PC chief, and Brig. Gen. Rafael Zagala, First Military Area commander, to replace Garcia in the Tabak Division stationed in Fort Magsaysay, at Laur, Nueva Ecija.
more nationalistic policy. I told them that it has saddened me to be driven to the refuge of anti-communism and pro-Americanism. I offered them the opportunity to obtain loans from the Eastern European Socialist countries; retirement of Gen. Raval and the disbandment of the “monkees” as well as the prosecution of Col. Tomas Diaz and his men for the alleged kidnapping of Alabado. They promised in turn to call off the February 12th rally and to meet with me on Tuesday Feb. 10th at 5:00 PM at the State Dining Room.
The “Monkees” was a clandestine paramilitary unit believed to have been behind the terrorist bombings that were used to justify the declaration of Martial Law.