The policy of intriguing among the subversives so they will divide and even kill each other is paying off. Arthur Garcia was ordered gunned down by Dante [Bernabe Buscayno] through his brother Joe Buscayno who was later killed. Actual killer was a certain Ben. Jose Maria Sison had to flee Central Luzon.
Sen. Gerardo Roxas charges me of participation by consent in Ilocos Sur. As usual an irresponsible statement intended merely for cheap publicity.
Another example of yellow journalism—The Times (Manila Times) reported 200 armed men fired upon and burned the two barrios, Oras Este and Oras Central. Actually some 15 to 20 men might have burned a few houses in retaliation for the cold-blooded killing of a jail warden in the bowling alley at Plaza Salcedo of Vigan. We may have to file a case against [Vincent] Bingbong Crisologo, the son of Floring [Floro Crisologo].
12:55 AM
Official Gazette for May 29, 1970: President Marcos delved into the Bantay incident in a conference with. Ilocos Sur officials, PC and AFP brass, and others concerned with the problem in that province, during which he issued directives on follow-up action. He sternly ordered the arrest and prosecution of the parties responsible for the terroristic acts in the barrio.
Present at the meeting, which started around 10 a.m. were Governor Carmeling P. Crisologo, Representative Floro S. Crisologo, Mayor Maria Asuncion Porte, Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, Secretary of Justice Felix V. Makasiar, NBI Director Jolly Bugarin, Chief Prosecutor Emilio Gancayco, General Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; Brigadier General Eduardo Garcia, PC chief; Brigadier General Felizardo Tanabe, 1st PC Zone commander, and Colonel Florentino Dumpit, Ilocos Sur provincial commander; and 24 barrio captains of Bantay.
During the day, the President also received a number of callers, including a large delegation representing the Hospital Association of the Philippines, who called after closing its 21st annual convention. The President assured the group that he will implement immediately the Medicare program once funds are available. The group was headed by Dr. Eliodoro Congco, HAP President. Notable among the other callers were Senator Rene Espina and Representative Emerito S. Calderon.
In the afternoon, the President devoted his time to official papers and other state business. He worked at his desk through evening.
The Crisologos of Ilocos Sur, punished two barrios in Bantay for supporting opposition candidates during the 1969 elections resulting in the murder of a former Bantay Mayor and the burning of the Oas Oas Este and Oas Central by their private army led by the Congressman’s son Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo. Marcos was a known political ally of the Crisologos, were related to Fabian Crisologo Ver, the powerful head of Presidential Security. Convicted of arson and sentenced with a double life sentence in June 1972 Bingbong Crisologo was pardoned by Marcos in 1980. He became a preacher, served as Representative of Quezon City’s First Congressional District, and unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Quezon City in 2019. Floro Crisologo was assassinated in the Vigan Cathedral on October 18, 1970 as he knelt after receiving communion
Stayed with Bongbong up to now going over our guns, one a Remington 30-06 automatic sporting rifle with a 4 power scope and the other a three barrel 16 gauge shotgun, 7.65 or 309 and a .22 magnum.
The papal nuncio announced that the Holy Father is coming to visit the Philippines in November.
The Crisologo case is hurting me and it is caused by friends. Floring and Carmeling Crisologo cannot seem to control their son, Bingbong. So we will have to prosecute him as well as whoever killed Quirino de la Cruz, the Ilocos Sur provincial jail warden.