The Christmas Dinner last night was well attended by both the Romualdez and the Marcos clans—more than a hundred from the old married ones to the babes in arms. The usual
Official Gazette for December 25, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS did not received any callers. Christmas day notwithstanding, he went on with his usual desk work, reviewing reports submitted to him by various government departments and agencies.
He also signed two executive orders—one providing for the organization of the Department of Agrarian Reform; and the other designating the new department as trustee of the special fund for assistance to the country’s land reform education program.
The organization of the new Department was in accordance with Republic Act No. 6389, otherwise known as the Code of Agrarian Reforms of the Philippines; and upon the recommendation of the special committee created under Special Order No. 11 of the Land Reform Project Administration, and the Commission on Reorganization created under Republic Act No. 5435.
The executive order defined the functions, powers, duties and responsibilities of the Secretary and Undersecretary of Agrarian Reform including those of the various units of the department.
In that same executive order, the President required the Budget Commissioner to effect the orderly reallocation of funds and other transitional actions relative thereto, to enable the department to be fully operational within 60 days following the issuance of the order.
The Budget Commissioner was likewise required to reflect in full the provisions of Republic Act No. 6389 and the executive order or parts thereof in the budget for the next succeeding fiscal year, and thereafter, except as may otherwise be more specifically provided.
The designation of the Department, of Agrarian Reform, which was embodied in another executive order, was agreed upon by the Philippine and the United States governments when the latter made available to the former the special fund.
The special fund, in the amount of 11,281,935, was appropriated by the U.S. government from the Special Fund for Education, U.S. Public Law No. 8894, known as the Land Reform Education Fund.
As agreed upon by both the Philippine and U.S. governments, the Land Reform Education Fund will be established as a permanent trust fund, the income of which will be used to finance the land reform education program in the country.
As trustee of the special fund, the Department of Agrarian Reform will perform the following functions, subject to the approval of the President;
1. Formulate the general policy for the Fund, and make decisions on the use of the funds, income and capital gains, including final action on appropriation for grants and research projects;
2. Formulate and adopt an assistance program based on educational programs which have been set forth in the agreement on the use of the fund; extending preference to projects which are enduring or self-sustaining, or which incorporate counterpart financial agreements;
3. Approve programs and projects to be undertaken by the Philippine Land Reform Center for Continuing Education which shall implement such programs and projects out of the earnings of the fund;
4. Obtain professional counsel and services for the wise and prudent management of the fund entrusted to it through an Investment and Financial Manager; and
5. Employ staff personnel, advisers and consultants to assist in the educational program, planning and implementation.
In the evening, the President in a wire condoled with the bereaved family of the late Secretary of Health Amadeo H. Cruz, who succumbed to heart attack at 5:50 a.m., on Christmas Day.
In extending condolence, the President called Secretary Cruz a dedicated public servant, who spent a lifetime in the service of his people.
gifts in cash and articles. For the children each was a hundred pesos in coins in gay red and blue striped cloth bags. For the grown ups there was bundles of currency in amounts from P10,000 that was for mother and P1,000 for the grand-children.
Good natured kidding. Like [Eliza]Beth [Marcos-Keon] who kept changing her gifts for the better ones received by the younger ones like Fortuna. I kept threatening laughingly that if she kept doing it I would give her wrist watch away.
And the Romualdezes losing weight specially Let (Dra. Lourdes Romualdez) and Francepin. Most of the Marcoses are slimmer.
Lasted up to 1:30 AM.
Slept at about 2:30 AM. Woke up at 9:00 AM. Went back to sleep until 12:30 [P]M.
The supply armory of the Phil. Army in Fort Bonifacio was raided the night of the 23rd. Apparently an inside job. The three padlocks were opened with the right keys. No violence used. 49 Armalites were packed in several duffle bags and thrown out among the tall cogon when the guard noticed the rope across the fence. The duffle bags were recovered.
So far only one Armalite is missing. But I have ordered a physical count of the armaments.
We are expecting some trouble at this time of the year as tomorrow is Mao Tse Tung’s birthday and the anniversary of the Reestablished Communists Party of the Philippines which was set up Dec. 26, 1968.
And we go to Baguio tomorrow morning by plane.
[Antonio] Tony Raquiza came to see me again yesterday to ask a decision on the request of the Traditionalist communists for support from me and the government in the form of arms (the original number requested was 500), information and cooperation of the Armed Forces. The Traditionalist ask an answer be made not later than Jan. l0th.
But the objective was for the Traditionalists to go after the leaders of the Maoists and eliminate them. They referred to Laguna, then Manila and Isabela.
However, I believe the Traditionalists do not have the capacity to accomplish the mission. So we are not giving them any guns. But I have asked them to show their capability by pointing out limited targets that they can hit but to tell me beforehand so that we can measure their accomplishments.
I believe that we can handle both the Maoists and the Traditionalists.