Have just had dinner with the children while Imelda took dinner with Lindy and Cecille Locsin. A lot of ribbing and punning with the children. Imee reported that her mother “is the biggest cheater in the J[o]ane Drew exercises.” In the sit-ups from lying on the back, she pushes up with her hands on the floor. On the bending to touch the toes opposite the touching hand, she spreads her legs so wide there is no effort to bend, etc. etc. They were all good-naturedly reporting to me that after the ladies go through the exercises, they order all kind[s] of food from the restaurants “so now mommy has gained one pound.” All of them have big hips “forty inches.” That is bigger than my chest at 37 inches I commented. Bongbong proudly claimed that he has only six inches to catch up with me—which claim the girls in a chorus questioned. A jolly good time—then my barber and dentist, the latter working on the teeth left by the Japanese Kempei Tai in Fort Santiago.
Ordered the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation], the CIS [Criminal Investigation Service], PC [Philippine Constabulary] and Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] to give support to the investigations of Rep. Pablo Ocampo on vices on corruption in the city which involves the mayor and his brothers, police officers and Chinese—as well as an area commander of the Metrocom, Lt. Col. [Norberto] Calderon who has asked to be relieved.
Official Gazette for April 18, 1970: President Marcos concentrated on his desk work, in the process also acting on a number of official matters coming to his attention.
Upon receipt of reports on the successful return of Apollo 13’s crewmen aboard their crippled spacecraft early in the morning, the President sent the following cablegram to President Richard Nixon:
“We share with you the deepest feeling of all mankind upon the safe return of the Apollo 13 and the brave men who manned it stop It was with one heart that the world prayed for their safe return and it is with one heart that it welcomes them back to earth stop The Apollo voyage has demonstrated not only a new heroism in space by those brave men who kept their courage and composure in a situation which not much of the world understood but also a unity on earth among those who watched that voyage with nothing but the best hopes that its triumph would once more be a triumph for man stop My family and I and the Filipino nation are one with you in spirit stop”
The President did not receive callers.
Among others, the Chief Executive:
1. Regulated the representation of the country in various international official gatherings by directing that whenever possible Philippine diplomatic missions abroad should make up the representation; 2. Approved the designation by the National Irrigation Administration board of Alfredo Juinio, as administrator of the NIA. 3. Reiterated his order to the Public Service Commission to stop giving permits to new jeepney operators in the Greater Manila area, in the face of the saturation of all possible jeepney routes in the area by present operators. 4. Submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation the nominations of Gaudioso R. Zerrudo and Jesus C. Demorito as municipal judges of Mina and Bingawan, Iloilo, respectively. Zerrudo has actively practiced law since 1955 when he was admitted to the bar, while Demorito is an assistant provincial fiscal of Iloilo.
The President remained at his desk through the afternoon and evening, except for a lunch break and a brief rest during the early afternoon hours.
Last night there was a story that Commander Dante [Bernabe Buscayno] was in the Far Eastern University Hospital for slipped disk—but negative results of a check.
We must reactivate the assignment of highly trained squads to track down and get each Huk commander. The squad leader who is a highly trained officer should do nothing but think and act on his mission