1:00 AM
November 6, 1971
Just came from the Cultural Center where Imelda who arrived at about 6:00 PM from Naga, Roxas City, Catarman and Tacloban, and I attended the Australian Ballet presentation of Dame Margot Fonteyn in Swan Lake—then a reception for her. She danced fabulously. We send her a card where I wrote “To the Poetry in Motion.”
Ordered the General Staff and DND [Department of National Defense] to study the plans for a possible withdrawal of the U.S. from Philippine bases und termination of military and mutual defense.
What I would like to see would be for the U.S. to stay in Asia and to keep the bases for another 5 to 10 years.
Official Gazette for November 5, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS reviewed with defense and military officials the peace and order situation in the country.
Present at the conference were Acting Secretary of National Defense Efren I. Plana, Gen. Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Rafael Ileto, Philippine Army commander; Brig. Gen. Jesus Z. Singson PAF commander; Brig. Gen. Eduardo M. Garcia, PC chief; Brig. Gen. Felizardo Tanabe, First PC Zone commander; and Commodore Dioscoro Papa, Flag Officer-in-command, Philippine Navy.
During the conference, the President gave the military officers guidelines to observe and follow in connection with the November 8 elections, to wit:
To put themselves at the disposal of the Commission on Elections, and give the COMELEC all possible support it needs to ensure a clean, orderly, peaceful elections; and
To prevent any disorder that may disrupt the voting.
Among other actions, the President promoted 1st Lt. Ramon P. Maddela to the rank of captain for the capture of Silvestre Mate y Abad, a Forbes Park kidnapper, less than 24 hours after the airbone escape of the latter.
Lt. Maddela was head of a team of jungle fighters of Task Force “Lawin” who tracked down and cornered Mate in Sitio Paitan, Maguisguis, Botolan, Zambales.
In promoting the PC officer, the President waived the provision of Circular No. 2 of GHQ which requires that a commissioned officer should have one year time in grade in the rank he is occupying prior to the promotion.
The President himself placed the shoulder board of a captain on Maddela in the presence of Gen. Manual T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Eduardo M. Garcia PC Chiefs, and Brig. Gen. Felizardo Tanabe, First PC Zone commander.
Earlier in the morning, the President received Dame Margot Fonteyn, prima ballerina, who made a courtesy call.
The President also issued a proclamation declaring Saturday, November 6, and Tuesday, November 9, special public holidays.
Under the Election Code of 1971, the day of the election has been moved from the second Tuesday to the second Monday of November of the election year.
The proclamation was issued by the President to give personnel of the government and of private firms the opportunity to return to their respective provinces and exercise their sovereign right of suffrage.
Reports received by the President during the day included one on the capture by the PC of a commander of the National People’s Army operating in Northern Luzon.
Captured was one commander Abrino Aydinan, who reportedly confessed to being the head of the organization department of the NPA in Northern Luzon.
Captain Santos Tutaan of the Ifugao PC, who reported the capture to the President, described Aydinan as half Ifugao and half Tarlakeño, and 20, years old.
During this time we will build our capabilities.
The first thing we must build up is a small arms factory and repair facilities for the Air Force and Navy to be developed later into manufacturing facilities.
We already have the ammunition plant in Bataan—and an explosive factory.
Then we must know what facilities exist in Subic Naval Base and in Clark Air force Base which we can take over and operate—and what should be dismantled by the U.S. and taken away.
We must now look around for possible allies—Australia, New Zealand possibly Japan. The British as of Oct. 1st dismantled their Far East Command; in lieu of which is a 5 power