There are several thoughts that have nagged and bothered me for the past several days.
- The media—With the possible exception of Bulletin and Herald, they are still bowing to the communist and the radical propaganda line—Everything Marcos does is wrong.
The communists are still succeeding in distorting news. - There are some officers and men in the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] that are not enthusiastic about the suspension of the privilege of the writ.
- While the majority of our people do not want a revolution they are quiet.
- The communist front organizations are still active. Apparently the second echelon of leaders have taken over while their first echelon were either arrested or went underground.
I am also disturbed by the statement of Justice Fred Ruiz Castro that the justices are only human and are affected by media, demonstrations and propaganda or what is otherwise known as public opinion—“no matter how hard they try to keep such influence” out of their thinking, there is an unconscious effect on them.
I issued Proclamation No. 889-C which lifts the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus this noon. It is a lifting of the Ilocos provinces from Batanes to Pangasinan, Batangas, Catanduanes, Masbate and all the Visayan provinces as well as Romblon, Marinduque and the two Mindoros.
I announced it at 2:00 PM.
This was after the conference with the Zone and Brigade Commanders, their CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] and Intelligence officers.
I am sure that even this will be criticized by the communist sympathizers.
And what worries me is that those who are fighting complacency and the communists may bring their guard down again
No Official Gazette entry for this day.