We have just talked to Bongbong and Imelda in Rome. Of course they are having a grand time. Bongbong is enjoying the city and when he asked Imee where he should go to visit, we suggested he goes to the Capuchin church (the catacombs) and look at the bones of the monks at 12:00 at night. Seriously we suggested that he should take breakfast at the Cafe de Paris, take a hack and ride around the Borghese Gardens and then not pay cocheros so that they will get agitated and raise their hands and voices to heaven.
We threatened the two that we would not miss them of they did not miss us!!
Bongbong is sending the stamps the Pope gave him for Irene to keep. So we have asked him to send us letters from the Vatican.
Dra. Aragon, whom I saw in the Cultural Center to see the Russian dance troupe Beryoska, asked about Imelda. Imelda says she is well up to now!!
I spent the whole day with the governors, members of Congress and chairmen starting at about 10:00 AM and lunch. I formally informed the political leaders that in accordance with the decision of the Nacionalista hierarchy, we will not present any
Official Gazette for September 6, 1970: President Marcos invited members of Congress, provincial governors, city mayors, provincial and city chairmen of the Nacionalista Party to a meeting at Malacañang during which he reminded them of the provisions of the law governing the Constitutional Convention and enjoined them to comply strictly with such provisions. He also signed a memorandum circular to officials and employees of the government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, requiring them to observe prohibitions in the Constitutional Convention Act.
At the meeting, the President reiterated the policy of the party that with or without a legal prohibition against party involvement in the convention, the Nacionalista Party will not field, support or finance any candidate as delegate to the Constitutional Convention. “The law is clear on the prohibition,” he pointed out, “and any question as regards the constitutionality of certain provisions of the law will be left for the Supreme Court to decide.”
As some members of the party sought to raise questions on certain provisions of the law, the President as titular head of the party, and acting party President Jose J. Roy said the luncheon-meeting was not the proper forum for such discussions and that it was called mainly to project the attention of party leaders to the provisions of the law and to restate the policy of the party that it adheres to the principles and provisions of the law.
At the outset, the President talked to the leaders of Congress present and impressed on them the urgency of enacting the flood control bill, which he has included in the agenda of the third special session.
The Congress leaders, headed by Senate President Gil J. Puyat and Speaker Jose B. Laurel, Jr. agreed that the flood control bill must be given top priority.
Present at the conference aside from Senate President Puyat and Speaker Laurel, were Senate President Protempore Roy, Speaker Protempore Jose Aldeguer, other NP senators and representatives; NP provincial governors and city mayors, and chairmen of NP chapters in provinces and cities where the incumbent governors and city mayors are not Nacionalistas.
official candidates, nor use the party machinery or party funds in support of or against any candidate. We will try to make the campaign a model.
There were those who felt that the Nacionalista Party should stand openly for a definite set of principles and that we were hypocritical for not doing so with candor (Maj. Fl. [Majority Floor] Leader Marcelino Veloso). Senator Leonardo Perez was openly so. So was Cong. Lamberto Macias of Negros Oriental and [Pablo] Bob Malasarte of Bohol.
But I had to intervene in the discussions when the Speaker and Senate President took divergent views. I asked the law to be read as the Speaker and other like Gov. of Albay and Cong. [Rogaciano] Mercado of Bulacan, seemed to think that the party could not come out openly for a set of principles of government.
Gov. [Isidro] Rodriguez did not come on his 11:00 o’clock appointment. So I have asked Congressman Frisco San Juan to request him to come at 3:30 PM tomorrow afternoon.