Delivered the inaugural speech at the Philippine Medical Convention at 10:00 AM.
Arrived at Malacañan at 12:15 AM. Certified the bill rehabilitating the PNR [Philippine National Railways] in the presence of management and labor.
I am slowly bringing into our political organization all the strong leaders of Iloilo, the home province of the Lopezes. This morning I inducted into the Nacionalista Party the Chairman of the Liberals in the 2nd District, Ex-Cong. Pascual Espinosa, the only Liberal with a following. This will bring in others.
Held a press conference on the May 1st shooting incident. The Buddha case came up and I demonstrated my outraged anger at the “cheap political stunt” of character assassination by innuendo.
I attach my notes and the newspapers today.
Official Gazette for May 5, 1971: President Marcos motored out of Malacañang in the morning, in company with the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, to keynote the convention of the Philippine Medical Association, held in Pasay City. Earlier, he did some paper work at his study. At 10 a.m., he left for the PMA convention. In his speech, he noted the change in attitude among those who formerly had shied away from participating in the effort to upgrade health and other living conditions in the rural areas. He said this change has been reflected in the activities of the PMA in the rural areas, and in the efforts of similar groups, as well as of public agencies.
Back in Malacañang at 12 noon, the President resumed official business and administered the oath of office to Judge Lorenzo Relova as presiding judge of the Court of First Instance of Manila, Branch II. He also presided at the affiliation ceremony whereby former LP Rep. Pascual Espinosa was formally admitted to the NP.
Among others whom the President received in the morning were Reps. Gloria Tabiana and Fermin Caram, Jr. and Lt. Gov. Antonio Ortiz of Guimaras, Iloilo; and Reps. Guillermo Sanchez of Agusan and Jose Puyat, Jr. of Surigao del Sur. The solons discussed with the President problems in their constituencies.
In the afternoon, the President worked mostly at his desk, but broke off at around 4 p.m. to hold a press conference. Late in the afternoon, the President received a delegation of city mayors.
Tonight at 10:30 PM I met Lupiño Lazaro, President of Pasang Masda [Pangkalahatang Samahan ng Maynila at Suburbs Drivers Associations] (the association of jeepney drivers). He claims the jeepney drivers are beating up the student radicals who are conducting sit-ins. He farther claims that his association has separated from the KM [Kabataang Makabayan].
But he claims that the leaders—Cris Aranda, Baculinao, Julius Fortuna, Vic Clemente etc. have decided to rent a helicopter on the day of the indignation rally (Friday) and may drop bombs from it
We will not stop them from doing so, but we will alert our airforce helicopters.