11:00 PM
Ozamis City
A very eventful day. Historic and hectic.
We have been able to get Gov. [Arsenio] Quibranza and Vice Gov. [Malamit] Umpa to withdraw in favor of General [Wilfredo] Encarnacion who will now enter the political field. This agreement was signed before me at about 5:00 PM at the helideck of TP 777.
At 3:00 PM I signed the lifting of the suspension of the Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus (Proclamation No. 889-C) on board TP 777 at the lounge.
We settled the Lanao del Sur conflict. Gov. Linang Mandangan runs for governor and Vice Gov. Marohombsar withdraws. But Sen. Mamintal Tamano’s group will prepare the line up for the new Maranaw province cut out of Lanao del Sur.
Official Gazette for September 25, 1971: President Marcos issued Proclamation No. 889-C lifting the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao and Sulu, with the exception of the two Lanao provinces and Cotabato.
Covered by the proclamation were the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Sulu; and the cities of Surigao, Davao, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Ozamis, Oroquieta, Tangub, Dapitan, Dipolog, Zamboanga, Basilan and Pagadian.
The President issued the proclamation on the advice of military and civilian officials that requirements of public safety and national security could be met by the normal exercise of governmental powers.
The Chief Executive conferred with the military and civilian officials on board the RPS Ang Pangulo shortly after arriving in Iligan City at 8 a.m. During the four-hour conference, Iligan and Lanao del Norte civic and school officials recommended the withdrawal of Gov. Arsenio Quibranza and Vice Gov. Malamit Umpa from the gubernatorial race in favor of a common candidate. Although both agreed in principle, Quibranza asked for time to consult his leaders.
After his meeting with the military and civilian authorities the President ordered: 1) The transfer of the entire 26th Battalion Combat Team from Zamboanga to Lanao del Norte, to be under Brig. Gen. Wilfredo Encarnacion; 2) That raids be conducted in installations and establishments in the province for firearms; 3) The army to go after armed men, whether Christians or Muslims. Reports indicated four armed bands roam in unpatrolled areas; 4) The Rice and Corn Administration to reroute to Iligan and Lanao del Norte the rice intended for other areas; 5) The Department of Social Welfare to sent food and medicine to evacuation centers; 6) The Civil Aeronautics Administration and the Department of Public Works and Communications to finish Ozamis airport as an emergency undertaking, even as he directed the Budget Commission to release immediately ₱100,000 for said airport.
Among those present at the conference were Acting Secretary of National Defense Efren I. Plana, Gen. Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Eduardo M. Garcia, PC chief; Brig. Gen. Wilfredo Encarnacion; Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan, Fourth PC Zone commander; Col. Jimmy Bangcola, Lanao del Norte PC provincial commander; Col. Cirilo Bueno, Task Force Pagari commander; and all provincial commanders of Mindanao and Sulu.
At 4 p.m., the President and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, sailed for Ozamis City to look into the plight of the evacuees from Lanao del Norte.
I ordered the entire 26th Bn. [Battalion] Combat Team at Zamboanga to be sent to Lanao del Norte.
We have met the evacuees in Ozamis City, distributed medicine and I released P50,000 for food, Pl50,000 for the Ozamis Airport and P100,000 for destroyed houses and work animals of evacuees.
Wild and tumultuous reception which has impressed the foreign guests.