9:00 AM—Met Archbishop [Teopisto] Alberto, Bishops [Mariano] Gaviola and [Jesus] Varela and Pepe Oledan on my appeal for support for strong arm reaction to the criminal and subversive elements.
I informed them that the situation may become worse before it becomes better and that I needed their support.
Archbishop Alberto, speaking for the hierarchy said that they could be of help in:
- Peace and order
Official Gazette for December 16, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, together with their son Ferdinand, Jr. (Bongbong) played Santa Claus in the afternoon to thousands of indigent children, who were special guests at the “Maligayang Pasko 71”, the children’s festival in Malacañang.
The children came from the different orphanages and slum communities in the Greater Manila area.
Santa Claus in person regaled the young guests when he descended on the Palace grounds in a helicopter.
In brief remarks welcoming the children, Ferdinand, Jr., who arrived from England for the Christmas holidays, conveyed the greetings of the season on behalf of his family.
The First Couple and Bongbong mingled freely with the children, and obviously enjoyed the afternoon as much as the youngsters.
Earlier in the day, the President met with some 1,000 incumbent and newly-elected national, provincial, city and municipal officials, including Nacionalistas, Liberals and the uncommitted, as well as chiefs of police and Philippine Constabulary officers.
During the two-hour meeting held at the Maharlika Hall, the President called particular attention to the establishment of “rural sanctuaries by the subversives from which they plan to expand their influence through politicalization and para-military operations to pave the road for the actual Communist take-over.”
Citing Isabela and other provinces where subversive activities have been on the increase, the President said “it is now quite obvious that they are implementing the original program of the Communist Party of the Philippines to erode the faith and confidence of the people in their leaders and the government so that they will no longer resist Communists.”
He mentioned Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Kalinga-Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Laguna and Camarines Sur as the other areas.
The President said there would be no compromise in the fight against criminality and the full protection of the law would be accorded to peace officers in the performance of their duties in the drive against crime.
Present at the conference were Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Defense Secretary Efren Plana, Public Works Undersecretary Baltazar Aquino, PACD Officer-in-Charge Rosendo Marquez, Senator Helena Benitez, Reps. Rodolfo Albano of Isabela, Jose D. Aspiras of La Union and Vicente Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur;
Gen. Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Eduardo Garcia, chief of the PC; Brig. Gen. Felizardo Tanabe, I PC zone commander; Brig. Gen. Zosimo Paredes, II PC zone commander; Brig. Gen. Tomas Diaz, Task Force Lawin commander; Cols. Tomas Karingal, and Celestino Rosea, chiefs of police of Quezon and Caloocan, respectively and Col. James Barbers, Deputy chief of the Police Department.
After attending to few scheduled callers toward noon, the President and the First Lady honored at luncheon Governor and Madame Ali Sadikin of Jakarta. Governor Sadikin arrived in Manila to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service for 1970.
As usual the President devoted the rest of his working hours to official papers and other state business.
2. Administration of government-red tape
3. Economic development
I asked them to help in government corruption and subversion. They agreed to a briefing by the military for the bishops, priests, nuns and lay members set for Wednesday, Dec. 22nd.
A liaison is to be established which in the meantime would be Pepe Oledan.
Archbishop Alberto seemed eager to help in subversion. He asked whether the Armed Forces could not be strengthened and whether I could not talk to [Joaquin] Chino Roces. I informed him that this was being done. And both Bishop Gaviola and he said with a little heat that this has not improved the tenor of the Manila Times. “It does not miss an opportunity to downgrade you.” “Look what it does with the Supreme Court decision.”
I believe they are duly alarmed by the decision of the Supreme Court and my description of the expected implementation of the plans for terrorism.
Met the representative of Nissan Motor Works Mr. Yuzi Shimamoto brought by Anthony Lee. They are interested in setting up a car factory under the Progressive Car Manufacturing Program.
Then at 11:00 AM, I met the governors and mayors of Luzon on peace and order and other problems. We agreed to adopt a stronger attitude against criminality and criminals, provide protection to the policeman and constabulary men in the form of legal aid, return the firearms ordered held in custody of the Constabulary by the Comelec [Commission on Elections], and calamity funds to repair destroyed national highways and agricultural facilities to be released.
I introduced Governor [Ali] Sadikin of Jakarta, a Magsaysay awardee and former Major General of the Indonesian marines.
And I had to leave them with Gen. [Eduardo] Garcia, Chief, PC [Philippine Constabulary], for the lunch I was giving at the State Dining room for Gov. Sadikin.
Maligayang Pasko Festival for 12,000 children at the Malacañang grounds at 3:00 PM. So I could not take my usual one hour nap. I dozed for a few minutes.
At 5:00 PM, the 6th Anniversary of the Presidential Security Unit I gave all of them the Presidential Merit Medal.
Then at 7:00 PM Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile and the other lawyers on the libel case for libel against Time Magazine arrived. But I went to play six holes of golf and exercised as I was feeling heavy. They took dinner with them at 9:15 PM at the study, Imelda later joined us.
We decided to notify Atty. Belo, the lawyer of Time that the offer of time for a settlement did not interest us and that what I was interested in was a judgment of malicious libel against Time.
Imelda is still busy preparing the gifts for the family.