Kamp of the New York Times has again misquoted me on Imelda’s running in 1973. He misquotes me as saying [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] (Ninoy) is a communist which I did but with the explanation that he is not an ideologue but a supporter, funder and armer which is just as bad.
Kamp, visiting Isabela, also says there is no sign of insurgency there. He probably wants to see a Vietnam type kind of fighting.
This man is as partial and as one sided as the Liberals.
The suspension is aimed at the legal cadres more than the communist army openly fighting our troops. This latter type we meet in standard military fashion—with force. The legal cadres are supposed to be neutralized by incarceration until the danger is over.
What worries me is this kind of journalism which masquerades as a sincere accurate presentation. It is worse than the openly hostile kind.
The early suspension of the privilege of the writ may have prevented what happened in 1950 when Pres. [Elpidio] Quirino waited for the Huks to grow into a strong fighting force of 14,000 men before he proclaimed the suspension.
Today the organization of the subversives can be shattered before they become stronger.
Yesterday I was asked by Clinton of the Newsweek if there is any possibility of the communists really growing into a serious threat to our republic and I reminded him that the communists who took over other countries were always in the minority but they succeeded in paralyzing [sic] the majority or taking over the leadership of a successful revolution.
It is my hope that I have also shown the way to future presidents who may not have my political strength and my close alliance with the military to use the extraordinary powers to meet threats of subversions.
And this should assure our businessmen that we can protect them from the radicals.
We attended mass and had lunch at Canlubang, Laguna (exactly one hour’s drive from Malacañang—11:00 AM to 12:00) and returned at 2:30-3:30 PM). We exhorted the mayors and leaders including Wency [Wenceslao] Lagumbay to get organized and to start campaigning.
I also explained why I did not lift the suspension in Laguna—the continued activity of the
No Official Gazette entry for this day.
subversives in San Pablo. Los Baños and the U.P. [University of the Philipines] College of Agriculture, Forestry and Animal Industry.