If and when I declare martial law, it will become necessary not merely to assume greater powers but to impose what is referred to as martial law in its severest form or in its technical senses —“that of the will of the commander, unlimited by any restrictions from statutes or the Bill of Rights.”
Thus I would have to immediately suspend the Constitution;
Take over all public utilities;
Impose censorship, curfew and limit assembly. This would mean taking over all media and communications.
Order the immediate arrest of all persons in any way connected with the rebellion.
But there should be the least fracture of the functions of government, specially in the executive.
The declaration of martial law in its severest form will be contested by the legal
Official Gazette for March 7, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS, together with the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, was guest of honor at an air show at the Manila International Airport climaxing the nationwide celebration of Aviation Week.
Arriving by helicopter from Malacañang at 8:10 AM, the President was greeted by a large Sunday crowd that jampacked the ramp and main terminal building of the airport.
On hand to welcome the President were Civil Aeronautics officials and Philippine Air Force top brass, led by CAA Administrator Federico Ablan, Jr., MIA General Manager Luis Tabuena and Brig. Gen. Jesus Singson, PAF commanding general,
The President was then escorted to the improvised platform adjoining the VIP Room, where the other distinguished guests were seated, among them Col. Jesus Villamor (ret.), Don Alfredo Carmelo, Col. Antonio Arnaiz and several United States Air Force officials.
The President was later joined by the First Lady and Irene who also flew in by helicopter from Malacañang. Mrs. Marcos was presented a bouquet of red roses by Miss Aviation, Lotis Key.
An appreciation plaque and a 747 jumbo jet model were also presented to the President by the International Airline Operators Council, Manuel Silva of the MIA Press Club and Helmuth Dosch of the Northwest Airlines.
At exactly 8:30 AM, the President officially opened the air show, which featured an aircraft display, flying exhibitions by the PAF’s Blue Diamonds aerobatic team, United States Air Force and Nationalist China Air Force; parachutists’ mass jump, skydiving, balloon and aero-model exhibitions, and fly-by by the Reserve Airlift Tactical Support Service (RATSS), an organization of civilian and private pilots established for humanitarian missions.
In brief remarks, the President emphasized the need for progress in aviation to cope with the ever increasing demands in air travel.
In between the exhibitions, the President, assisted by the First Lady and Irene, awarded Presidential plaques and citations to individuals and different participating units.
The President was back in Malacañang in time for lunch. He had a brief rest later and then attended to desk work the rest of the afternoon and early evening.
technologists but it has to be preceded by a finding of hostilities and a state bordering on war which has caused the collapse of the civil authority.
But what is a collapse of the civil authority?
What courts will handle and try civil—or criminal cases?
What about the Supreme Court? Should it function?
And yet these questions and doubts cannot and should not cause timidity and hesitation when the time comes for decisive action.
I played golf this afternoon at Fort Aguinaldo with Gen. [Romeo] Espino, [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto, Gen. [Reynaldo] Perez and Commodore [Hilario] Ruiz. And when I was coming home, I felt some kind of melancholy at all the people waving and smiling to me as if to say, “We depend upon you to protect us. We know only you can do it. We trust you.” This same feeling comes to me when all the reports of communist subversive designs reach me. The faces of all the helpless but trusting people focus in my mind and eyes.
I opened the Air Show at MIA [Manila International Airport] at 8:20 AM. Gen. [Jose] Rancudo made the first pass in a jetfighter F-5.
Mass parachute jump by the PAF [Philippine Air Force]. Then sky diving from 12,000 with a free fall of 10,000, their drop traced by smoke on their boots and their parachutes opening at 2,000 ft. There were two American girls among them.
Bob Sinclair made another jump after Imelda arrived in another helicopter. He jumped with a parachute at 12,000 ft. Then his parachute apparently went Roman candle and it flew off and he started falling free. Everybody gasped thinking he was a dead duck. But he opened his other chute to the relief of everyone. And it was a part of the act.
When we had left, however, he (Bob Sinclair) was hanging out with a Philippine flag from the Benny [Benigno] Toda [Jr.] helicopter when it flamed out. The pilot was able to rotate safely down but while the two pilots were unharmed, Bob Sinclair was said to have suffered two fractured legs by Bololo Lao. However, CAA [Civil Aeronautics Administration] Director Federico Ablan reported he (Bob Sinclair) suffered only a sprained right ankle.
The Blue Diamonds and Red Tigers were superb as usual.
Incidentally, Northrop, according to Col. Jesus Villamor who was there, thinks the best pilots are the Filipino pilots who have taken the F-5 and performed with it beyond their expectations and plans.
And Flying Brothers which was an annual competition of the various military air forces in Asia like U.S., Korea, Nationalist China, British, New Zealand, Australia, had to be discontinued as the Philippines was winning the competition continuously.