Imelda and I went to Vigan, Ilocos Sur to pay our last farewell and visit [Floro] Floring Crisologo at his house where the widow and her children mourn.
The sky was a little murky and the air and sky was a little turbulent. There was lightning in the air when we returned to Manila at about 1:00 o’clock PM. Our radio was not working on the last 25 minutes. So Imelda was a little nervous waiting for me at the Nichols Air Base. She had taken the Soriano King Air which is much faster (225 knots an hour while the PNB [Philippine National Bank] King Air in which I rode was flying at about 205 knots an hour) and so was ahead of me.
The atmosphere in Vigan is still tense. For everybody seems to know who masterminded the killing but there is no evidence so far. There are two promising leads but I am not happy about the way the investigation is going. Yesterday the PC [Philippine Constabulary] checkpoints allowed three weapons carriers loaded with men in uniform
Official Gazette,October 20, 1970: The President along with the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, flew to Vigan, to pay his respects to the late Rep. Floro S. Crisologo. Lifting off from Nichols Air Base at 7:55 a.m., with the First Lady taking another plane, the President had in his party Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr. and CAA Administrator Federico Ablan. He flew to Vigan in an effort to learn first-hand about the circumstances of the assassination, and to allay the anxiety of the people there by easing the tensions which grew in the wake of the murder.
The President and the First Lady also wished to condole personally with the bereaved Crisologo family. Meeting the President at the airport in Vigan were Brig. Gen. Felizardo Tanabe and Major Gen. Romeo Espino, along with Col. Tomas Diaz and the Ilocos Sur provincial commander. After condoling with Gov. Carmeling P. Crisologo, the President conferred with officials present, which included Reps. Jose D. Aspiras, Carmelo Barbero, Eduardo Cojuangco, Joaquin Ortega; military officials, and those who came with him from Manila. After the meeting, the President issued directives aimed at speeding up the investigation of the case and strengthening the efforts to nab the killers, including the mastermind. He also issued orders on the intensification of the round-up of loose firearms in the region.
The presidential party took off for Manila at about 11:45 a.m., arriving at Nichols Air Base at about 1:10 p.m. The President worked at his desk and received callers for the rest of the afternoon. Among those who called were Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata, Carlos Ledesma, Undersecretary of Industry Troadio Quiazon, and private persons including a visiting director of Mercedez-Benz, the German auto firm, who paid a courtesy call.
The Chief Executive, among others, directed Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Emile to ensure peace and order in the area by having law enforcement forces react swiftly to any sign of violence and to rigidly ban the carrying of firearms. The President said that all necessary measures should be taken by the government to forestall any breach of the peace in the province. Corollary to the preservation of peace and order in Cotabato, the President also directed:
1) The Undersecretary of Agriculture to immediately look into the reported land disputes involving areas cultivated by the native Tirurays with a view to resolving them; 2) the Governor of Land Authority to find a suitable reservation for the native Tirurays; and The chief of the Complaints and Investigation Office to investigate the reported compulsory contributions being exacted from loggers, farmers, fishermen and kaingeros in Upi, Cotabato.
and civilians all armed and belonging to the Chavit [Luis] Singson faction to pass through to the north bound for Ilocos Norte. I have no doubt that if the murderers were with them, they have escaped through the Laoag Airfield.
The two leads are the priest celebrating mass recognizing one of the policemen of Vigan as one of the triggermen. The second is a conversation overheard in Baguio as to when the ambush of Governor [Carmeling] Crisologo would take place. The answer was given that it was not the governor who was going to be killed but the congressman. And the persons engaged in the conversation have been identified. As I write this, the suspects are probably being interrogated.
Cong. Roque Ablan, Jr. claims that Sen. [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] told him that Chino [Joaquin] Roces had asked for some security men and guns. Chino Roces had issued an answer to the charge of Gov. Carmeling Crisologo that while they did not pull the triggers of the guns that killed Floring Crisologo, he (Floring) was actually killed by Chino Roces, the Jesuits and student activists who had mounted a hate campaign against him blaming him and his followers for the crimes committed in Ilocos Sur when no opposition or Liberal leader had ever been ambushed or sought to be assassinated while she and Floring were the objects of repeated attempts.
The truth is I will miss Floring. He was one of the more pleasant leaders we had. And his personal habits and attitudes were not abrasive.
And the Kabataang Makabayan have openly jeered at the government with its statements that the death of Floring Crisologo is a warning to all the men in authority who have run government. They are celebrating.
I understand that when Floring died, the students at Barrio Ora, Bantay, Ilocos Sur went around shouting, “Crisologo is dead. Now the revolution starts.”
Ghouls feeding on carrion!
Lt. Col. Lamayo, CO of the 51st PC Bn. [Battalion] was killed at about 1500 hours at the U.S. radio station, about 5 kilometers towards Camp O’Donnell from the junction of the National Highway by a guard of the Radio Station who probably was an HMB [Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan]. He was without security and was careless.
He was a good officer and is a loss to the Armed Forces.
I ordered the relief of Col. Poblete as the CO of Task Force Aguila in Vigan by Col. Tomas Diaz, Zone Z-2.
The investigation of the Crisologo murder will be conducted by the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation]. But the Armed Forces will give support. All the evidence they obtain will go to the NBI for coordination.
And all persons carrying firearms whether in uniform or in civilian clothes will be asked to present their ID’s and documentation to carry firearms. Soldiers on duty who do not perform this task will be court martialed.
But all persons belonging to any faction in the province will be protected.
And the killers should be taken dead or alive. But preferably alive, so that we may also get the mastermind which is a more important task.
The body will be brought to Manila by plane for the Congressional necrological services on Thursday then brought back to Vigan for interment.
Played golf with Bobby [Roberto Benedicto] and Neling [Nieto] from 5 to 7:00 PM. Then met with the Mercedez Benz people headed by Anthony Lee and the Far East Director.
Conferred with the sugar planters headed by Charlie Ledesma on the 2% tax on producers and millers which the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] is trying to collect five years retroactively. I have ordered further study.
Then met the CAB [Civil Aeronautics Board] on the PAN-AM telegram to me that they cannot send their 747’s because the 2-2 flights do not warrant it. I have directed that they be temporarily allowed to fly but limited to present passenger capacity of about 1,200 weekly. But they must file a motion for reconsideration.
Worked out with Sec. Cesar Virata our financing problems.
Do we borrow abroad some more dollars long term at even 12% interest for lending to viable and dollar-earning industries? A study of present industries openings must be made.
Steel—how many blast furnaces can be set up. If so by whom—a consortium.
The tax measures to be submitted next year. They have to be more revolutionary—income distribution.
What is the cost of a welfare state—free medical services? Free education up to high school? Free housing? Free what else?
What compromise can we adopt? What will it cost? What taxes can be increased?