Official Gazette for October 1, 1971: President Marcos, in a move to normalize the supply and distribution of the nation’s most important cereal, prevent the excessive spiralling of prices of rice and other essential commodities by profiteering and hoarding, and enable the government, civic and welfare agencies to carry out their relief operations effectively, declared a state of calamity in nine additional provinces in Luzon and Mindanao.
Heavy damage to rice crops in these areas were wrought by intensive tungro infestation, typhoon and drought.The provinces embraced by the proclamation were Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Isabela, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Cotabato and South Cotabato.
The President had previously declared the Greater Manila area, Rizal, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Batanes and Laguna as calamity areas in separate proclamations, due to extensive damage from typhoon “Yoling” in 1970. The. President directed the National Disaster Control Center (NDCC) to expand its scope of responsibility of overseeing, coordinating and directing rescue and relief operations of the Armed Forces, other government agencies and the private sector in the affected areas.
He likewise designated the Price Control Council to implement the provisions of the proclamation, empowering it to order the seizure of any commodity or material or merchandise of prime necessity, to sell it to the public at authorized prices, and to reimburse to the owner of the same its legal price.
In the course of the day, the President met twice with Lanao del Norte officials and civic leaders regarding the proposal to have Brig. Gen. Wilfredo Encarnacion as a common candidate for governor of the province. The President, however, scheduled another meeting in view of the inability of Gov. Arsenio Quibranza to attend the conference.
During the two conferences, the President directed Acting Defense Secretary Efren I. Plana to seek declaratory relief on behalf of Gen. Encarnacion as well as the two candidates—Quibranza and Vice Gov. Malamit Umpa—who had agreed to withdraw.
The President also asked the Lanao officials and civic leaders to submit another list of prospective candidates for governor should Gen. Encarnacion be declared as not qualified.
In another conference aimed also at the maintenance of peace and order, the President effected an agreement between the two warring factions m Ilocos Sur designed to stop further bloodshed in that province.
Those who met with the President were Gov. Carmeling Crisologo and her son Vincent, a candidate for mayor of Vigan, and their political rivals led by Luis “Chavit” Singson, his brother Evaristo, also a candidate for mayor of Vigan.
Aside from these conferences, the President received several scheduled callers, including the officers of the UP Vanguard Fraternity whom he inducted into office. In brief remarks following the induction rite, the President rallied the group to a full commitment to the Flag, even as he warned that the communists would use every tactic and strategy to take over the government through peaceful or violent means.
Inducted were Senator Mamintal Tamano, national commander; and Agriculture Undersecretary Jose Drilon, Jr., Brig. Gen. Eduardo Garcia, Luis Beltran, Ramon Dumaual, Mars Espino, Sonny Ventura, Ted Javier, Jimmy Cortez, Col. Bienvenido Castro, and Lt. Col. Rodolfo Villoria, members of the board of governors.
In the afternoon, the President inducted Jose Campos as judge of the court of first instance of Pasay City, following confirmation of the latter’s nomination by the Commission on Appointments.
Campos, and his appointment to the judiciary, was a law professor at the University of the Philippines and a successful business executive.
The President also issued an administrative order creating an ad hoc Cabinet committee to inquire into the various problems arising out of the rice situation and to recommend appropriate solutions therefor.
The President’s order formalized a decision arrived at during the Cabinet meeting for the creation of such a body to inquire into the feasibility of adopting effective counter-measures to prevent rice shortages in the country.
Named to the committee were Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., as chairman, and Secretary of Public Works and Communications David M. Consunji, Acting Secretary of Commerce and Industry Troadio T. Quiazon, Jr., Acting Secretary of National Defense Efren I. Plana, Acting Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, Chairman Vicente Paterno of the Board of Investments, and Undersecretary of Agriculture Jose D. Drilon, Jr., as members.
The web-fed printing press that is in storage at the stadium may just be the machinery required for the newspaper we intend to publish. Johnny Perez is checking.
Have just met Justice Fred Ruiz Castro. He came to tell me at 9:00 PM at [Bahay] Pangarap that there will be a briefing by the Chief of Staff of the basis for the suspension. He feels that he should have an SI of everything which he is going to use without revealing the source or the more confidential details. And another briefing paper could be prepared for the entire court.
He assured me that there is nothing to fear from the Supreme Court. That even if the case would be decided unanimously, that it would be decided with an overwhelming majority.
And that the decision as he sees it from the discussions will be that the Supreme Court has examined the basis for the suspension of the privilege and does not see any abuse of the powers of the President. He said this would then strengthen my hand.
He was against the total lifting of the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus because as he claims he has told the court, he believes that there is an existing rebellion and that Manila is its center and he realizes the danger that we face.
Yesterday I anticipated this and I ordered that briefing papers be prepared for the Supreme Court to be made by the Chief of Staff.
It will be ticklish as we may have to reveal highly confidential information.
And anyway, the doctrine in the Barcelon v. Baker case of 1905 carried over to the Montenegro case in 1955 has apparently been modified. And that doctrine to the effect that the decision of the chief executive to suspend the privilege of the writ is a political decision and is not subject to judicial review has apparently given way to the doctrine that the decision of the president can be reviewed to determine if there was any abuse; whether it was a mischievous or whimsical decision; whether there was actually no basis for it whatsoever.
This is a dangerous doctrine. In the future the president will have to allow overt acts of agression [sic] to impress upon the Supreme Court and the people the need for the suspension—no matter how dangerous this would be as the massive sabotage and terrorism or even the demoralization of the people and the political leadership may have set in. The communists would then have attained their primary objective.
I understand the decision to call for a briefing was made after an emotional appeal of the Chief Justice that the people have lost faith in the executive and the legislative branch of the government and they must not have the same feeling for the Supreme Court.
So it is quite apparent that pure legal principle has been junked for political expediency. And even the honorable justices want to be popular!
What a grave disappointment.