PRESIDENT MARCOS was guest of honor and speaker in the morning at ceremonies launching Exercise “Subok” aboard a Philippine Navy vessel at Pier 15, South Harbor.
In his speech, the President hailed the military exercise as a measure of the vigilance of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), and a way of strengthening the regional shield of the free nations of Southeast Asia, but added that the greater duty of SEATO “is the duty to increase our inner capabilities of peaceful advancement.”
Free peoples, he said, must constantly strive to make “the idea of growth and human progress possible, through increased knowledge, goodwill and mutual trust.”
The President stressed as well the importance of discipline, the “energizing and elevating force of the human personality which makes mankind ready at all moments to face the unpredictable.”
Only in this way, he said, could the nations “develop to its fullest extent the competence for nationhood, for fruitful international relations, and if need be, for the armed struggle that would be the last line of defense against threats to our individual and national freedom.”
After the launching ceremonies, the President motored to the nearby office of Commissioner Rolando Geotina to check on the operations of customs offices.
He told Commissioner Geotina to keep on intensifying collections to meet the increasing requirements of the government.
The President also ordered Commodore Santiago F. Nuval (ret.), special assistant on port administration, to update the integrated development plan which was designed to improve and modernize port facilities all over the country, particularly those utilized as international ports of call.
He likewise instructed Eduardo Gatchalian, chairman of the embroidery and inspection board, to check into reports of sale of textile imported as embroidery materials in quantity in local markets.
The President told Gatchalian to take immediate steps toward the prompt prosecution of embroidery firms found engaged in the smuggling of textiles.
During his visit, which lasted for about 30 minutes, the President also served notice that he would like to inaugurate the Fishermen’s Market in Navotas, Rizal after the Holy Week.
The Chief Executive said that the opening of the Fishermen’s Market would contribute to the stabilization of the prices of fish and other sea products in the Greater Manila area.
He had previously instructed Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. to work out arrangements with the Greater Manila Terminal Food Market (GMTFM) for making the market operational. The GMTFM would in the meantime manage the market pending its eventual turnover to a fishermen’s cooperative.
The President also had given Secretary Tanco the job of organizing the cooperative for fishermen, with the view of eliminating middlemen who were reported as raking most of the profits from the industry and contributing to the high prices of fish in the market.
Regarding the development of ports, the President stated that priority should be given to big ports like Manila. Other ports earmarked for development include those of Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Zamboanga.
Back in Malacañang, the President worked at his desk. He issued a proclamation which reserved two parcels of land for a settlement site of members of cultural minorities in Mindanao and a subterranean national park.
Some 1,375 hectares were proclaimed by the President in Kidapawan, Cotabato for the exclusive use of the Tirurays and Manobos upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
This new settlement would be under the administration of the Commission on National Integration.
In another proclamation, the President declared an area consisting of 3,901 hectares situated in Puerto Princesa, Palawan for national park purposes.
Later in the afternoon, the President swore in Dr. Narciso Albarracin as undersecretary of education.
Dr. Albarracin’s nomination was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.
Following the induction, the President signed the nomination of Dr. Pablo T. Mateo, Jr. as assistant director of the Bureau of Private Schools, which he submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation.
Bongbong arrived at 8:00 PM tonight by Quantas direct from London. Flying time by Quantas is 15 hours passing by Rome, Teheran, New Delhi, Hongkong then to Manila.
I attach his schedule.
He is fair or pale from the lack of sun and has grown taller. He confided to me he had been working hard.
Met the Christian mayors of Cotabato to find out what they propose for the maintenance of Peace and Order in that province.
Mayors Dorulo and Dequeña of Pigkawayan and Midsayap confided to me that they had armed their men and had fought the Moslems who must have suffered heavily; that the Moslems had started the killing when they tried to drive out the Christians from their fields; that if the PC will not intervene the Christians would wipe out the Moslem armed men who were harassing them; that the Peace Commission was controlled by Udtog Mataolam who was ambitious and wanted to return to power in Cotabato.
We worked out a plan for the public works projects for their municipalities so the people may have work and a source of income.
And I brought them together with the Moslem Sinsuat clan so that the MIM [Mindanao Independence Movement] may not claim that they are waging a Moslem religious war which could spread to other Moslem provinces like Lanao and Sulu.
Then I will bring the Ampatuans into the group. This would be a strong combine of Moslems and Christians for political or other purposes.
They report that while before the Christians had united and decided to fight back the Moslems had openly talked of secession, now they dare not talk about it.
The secessionist movement is practically dead but we are watching the meetings of the Ansarul Islam and the MIM in Zamboanga which are going on.
I keep receiving reports of copper findings everywhere. There is another 3,500 hectares of copper find in Western Cebu, 14 kilometers from the sea and 20 kilometers from Atlas Mining.
Speaker [Jose B.] Laurel sent [Roberto] Bert Sabido and [Marcelino] Lening Veloso to me to help him out in the House move to replace him.
My assessment is that the neophytes are so decided on a reorganization that even if I intervened now we would end up with the embarrassing situation of the Speaker losing the chair.
So I am talking to the rebels quietly. Although I would prefer to see Speaker Laurel out. He and his men pocketed a lot of the funds for the House.
Cong. [Jose] Leido Jr. confirmed this attitude of the neophytes tonight on the telephone.