It is the sentiment of even those who bear no affection for me:
- That the rally yesterday at which the radicals kept shouting revolution and “Patayin si Marcos” and similar inflammatory cries proved my point that the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus does not affect the other civil rights and that other than the men who are engaged in rebellion, everything is normal.
- That the participation of the Manila Times publisher Chino [Joaquin] Roces proves the bias and prejudice of the newspaper.
- That the reaction of the usual critics in media proves the point I raised in the book that media is unreliable as a participant in the democratic dialogue for it tends to be subjective and not objective.
- That the newspapers have again banded together to exaggerate the alleged demands for the lifting of the suspension. The Plaza Miranda rally of Monday was headlined as held by 50,000 whom our actual count is 15,000 to 20,000.
- And the colleges and school actually compelled attendance in the rally. There was also some coercion by the KM [Kabataang Makabayan] student leaders.
In the Philippines, if we anal[y]ze the personalities in media, it will be apparent that the dominant ones—those in control of the positions and organizations that direct the publication of news—are leftists.
So the whole atmosphere of the media world is that of the fashionable leftist.
Even those who try to be the true newspaperman must assume a defensive stance against the assaults of the aggressive leftists who dominate the group.
Official Gazette for September 14, 1971: President Marcos had a comparatively quiet day, enabling him to concentrate more on state matters and paper work.
Of the few visitors, among the most prominent were Ambassador Hadji Bin Mohamed of Singapore and his wife, who called to say goodbye to the President before enplaning for Singapore for reassignment following the completion of his tour of duty here. Belated birthday best wishes continued to reach the President, including the receipt of a plaque expressing birthday felicitations from the municipal and barrio officials of Batac, Ilocos Norte.
The President received a few other visitors, mostly officials who came to consult him on local matters. Most of the time, he worked at his desk with his aides. He signed, among others, the appointment of Prof. Estelito P. Mendoza as ad interim undersecretary of justice. Mendoza filled the post vacated by former Undersecretary Ramon Fernandez, who had been appointed associate justice of the Court of Appeals.
Thus in the Plaza Miranda rally of Monday, Chino Roces and A[r]mando Doronila are carrying the standard of the National Press Club. Juan Mercado is head of the Philippine News Service. I[ndalencio] P. Soliongco and Ernesto Granada as well as Renato Constantino are with Chronicle. The MOPC [Manila Overseas Press Club] is run by Max [Maximo] Soliven.
The pictures of the media shows the media participation. Apparently this is their answer to my book with its criticism of media.
Worked out the usual political conflicts:
Pangasinan
Laguna
Ilocos Norte
Lanao
Cotabato
And worked on the rice distribution of RCA [Rice and Corn Administration] as rice may become the principal issue in the elections.
Usec. [Jose] Drilon [Jr.] is worried that because of the drought and the tungro infestation [viral rice disease] there may also be a shortage of rice next year.