I charged Sen. [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] today of subversion and rebellion. I read the report on him, presented the carbine M-1 with telescopic sight and carved handle or stock he gave to Commander Alibasbas [Cesario Manarang] through Commander Danilo [Paquito Tubo?] as well as the chrome-plated grease gun with silencer given to Commander Mallari and later taken by Commander Ligaya [Manuel Dimatulac].
Then I presented his former men, Atty. Max Llorente and Herman Ilagan, a former close ally who were ready to testify against him.
This was after I had explained the situation that called for the suspension of the writ. “For I know that the Armed Forces can overwhelm any rebellion by the subversives.” I said “But if we let it begin and gather strength in the city, during the fighting, there will be many innocent lives and valuable property lost. So before it gets worse, we must stop it.”
I then admitted that our agents had infiltrated the ranks of the NCPP [New Communist Party of the Philippines], the NPA [New People’s Army] and the front organizations.
Then I appealed to the subversives. “We know your plans. To reiterate, please do not execute these plans. If I am convinced that you will implement your plans of violence, I will proclaim martial law.”
Official Gazette for August 24, 1971: President Marcos focused on desk work, disposing of urgent state papers and going over reports from various government agencies.
In the evening, the President delivered another radio-television address from the Malacañang State Dining Hall, during which he made an impassioned plea to subversive elements to refrain from pushing through their plans of terrorizing the country. The President said that although the armed forces are capable of meeting any eventuality, such violence would only mean the senseless loss of lives and property, and the dislocation of the economy.
The President showed with the aid of a chart how the subversive activities of lawless elements had progressively increased during the last five years, as he justified his suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. He said that the increase in the tempo of incidents, which started in 1968, “was due to the fact that in December 1968, Jose Maria Sison organized a new communist party and also due to the fact that some politicians brought the leaders of the New Communist Party together with Commander Dante and thus strengthened it.”
The President said that from 81 incidents or engagements between AFP troops and subversives at the end of 1968, these rose to 173 at the end of 1969, and 244 at the end of 1970. The 1970 incidents exacted 126 casualties on government forces. The President said however that as of June 1971 the casualties (killed and surrendered) inflicted by the armed forces totalled 1,294 or almost treble that of the casualties inflicted on government troops.
During the press interview that followed his address, the President, among others, exhibited an M-1 carbine equipped with telescopic sight, one of the firearms which, he said, was supplied by a leading member of the opposition party to Huk commanders. On fears expressed by certain quarters on possible abuse in the exercise of the power under the writ suspension, the President said, among others, that no one would be apprehended unless the evaluation of evidence against any person has been thoroughly reviewed and his apprehension has been approved by the Secretary of National Defense, and that only the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the agents of the Department of Justice or the CIS may make arrests.
Sen. Aquino has charged over TV that these charges were all lies and asked that he be charged criminally in court and given speedy trial. He appealed with the statement that he was the only opposition senator.