I actually write this
at 4:30PM August 22 as
I was too occupied last
night going to bed at 5:00 AM today
I have declared by proclamation No. 889 a suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
This after the police, the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation], the CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] and others agree that the bombing of the LP [Liberal Party] rally at Plaza Miranda at about 9:00 PM and which resulted in 9 dead, 68 wounded with Sens. [Jovito] Salonga and Sergio Osmeña Jr. fighting for their lives in surgery, was caused or done by subversives.
I attach copy of the proclamation and the newspapers of today (the 22nd) reporting the tragedy.
It was necessary to convince the Secretary of Justice with the explanation that such a
Official Gazette for August 21, 1971: Following receipt and confirmation of reports on the bombing of the Liberal Party rally in the evening at Plaza Miranda, President Marcos, among others, directed the National Bureau of Investigation, the Metrocom and the Armed Forces to use their special demolition squads and investigate the nature and sources of the explosives used in the bombing. He likewise summoned acting Mayor Felicisimo Cabigao of Manila to make a report on the incident. In a statement he issued, the President said:
“We condemn the bombing of the Liberal Party rally at Plaza Miranda tonight as an unmitigated crime against the entire Filipino nation and people. It is a crime against every Filipino who believes in democracy as a way of life and who believes that democracy draws its vitality and strength from the spirit of peaceful political competition. This is certainly a day of shame for the Filipino people. The government will spare no effort and will use all its resources in going after those responsible for this barbaric act and in seeking justice for those who suffered injuries and those who lost their lives. I appeal to every person who has any information on this heinous crime or who has any clue to the identity of the persons guilty to cooperate with the government in tracking them down. I have directed the NBI, the Metrocom and the Armed Forces to use their special demolition squads and investigate the nature and sources of the explosives used in the bombing. I have also summoned the acting mayor of Manila to make a report on the incident. This to me is a national tragedy which we must bear with sorrow and compassion for the victims. Mrs. Marcos joins me in expressing our deepest condolence to the victims.”
Earlier in the morning, the President had a three-hour conference with both Muslim and Christian leaders of Cotabato on the peace and order condition in that province. In accordance with the leaders’ recommendations, the President ordered a shift from the use of the military to civilian authority in the peace and order campaign in Mindanao, particularly in Cotabato. The governor, the congressman, the mayors and the barrio captains were reactivated to perform their duties and may call upon the military for support only when necessary.
Present at the conference were Sen. Leonardo Perez, Reps. Salipada Pendatun of North Cotabato and Constantino Navarro of Surigao del Norte, former Rep. Blah Sinsuat, Mayor Michael Sinsuat of Upi, Maj. Gen. Romeo G. Espino, AFP vice chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Eduardo M. Garcia, PC chief; Brig. Gen. Fidel Ramos, Deputy Chief of Staff for Home Defense Activities; and Col. Valentin S. Mayuga of intelligence, AFP; Lt. Col. Carlos Cajelo, former PC provincial commander and Delegate Roseller T. Lim of the Constitutional Convention.
The President devoted the whole afternoon to desk work, during which he submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation the nomination of Conrado Sanchez, Jr. as member of the Board of Investments.
At the time of his designation by the President to the BOI, Sanchez was vice president of Fil-Hispano Ceramics and Monja Estate, Inc.
grave and heinous crime must be met with decisive action on the part of government. Otherwise our democracy is doomed.
Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile was for outright declaration of martial law.
Among those whom I called to the conference before I signed the proclamation were: PC [Philippine Constabulary] Chief Gen. [Eduardo] Garcia, Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] Chief Gen. [Mariano] Ordoñez, Acting Chief of Staff Gen. [Romeo] Espino, CIS Chief Col. [Prospero] Olivas, Internal Security Chief Gen. [Fidel] Ramos and PSU [Presidential Security Unit] and PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion] Chief, Gen. [Fabian] Ver.
Gen. Ramos drew up the list of persons to be arrested drawn from the original contingency plan. The traditionalists among the communist leaders were expurgated leaving about 27 Maoists. Although later on five were added including Dante Simbulan, Sixto Carlos Jr., ______.
We finished at about 4:30 PM.
Sen. [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] who was absent from the platform during the bombing (suspiciously so) is the prime suspect as the mastermind or at the least agreed to allow the NPA [New People’s Army] to do the bombing.
He claims that he was warned by a telephone caller at 6:00 PM that it would be his last speech. But when he talked to Sen. [Eva Estrada] Kalaw after the tragedy he claimed that when he was on the way to the rally, his party was diverted to the Jai Alai because something was going to happen in the rally and he would have to wait it out.
Just in case the arrests of the Maoists should invite violent action, I am preparing an order proclaiming martial law.
For we cannot now compromise on this case. It must be solved. And neither should we temporize even with Ninoy Aquino. This man is most probably the mastermind of the whole dastardly plot. And in all probability his side kick, a Commander Felman, (true name—Bert Santos) executed the plan. They may not have planned to kill or injure so many people. But merely to cause a scare. Either Commander Felman decided to kill the rivals of Ninoy within the Liberal Party or he goofed. But the result was tragic.
Ninoy Aquino is the most ruthless man in the Philippines today.