It has been raining intermittently since yesterday. The planes could not land this morning at Loakan airport (except for the PNB [Philippine National Bank] plane piloted by Capt. Gamboa) and on my instruction they did not force a landing but proceeded to San Fernando to land. Ricky Cu-Unjieng, the Cojuangcos and Felicianos went to Poro Pt. by car and took one of the Fokkers back to Manila taking off at 12:10 AM.
We slept the whole morning instead as we had slept only four hours last night between the children and Imelda coming to bed late.
I had to cancel my 7:00 AM flight to Laoag where I was supposed to land, then induct the new local officials to office. It has been delayed to tomorrow.
Air Force predicts better flying weather tomorrow.
My vertigo is still with me. Apparently cold that has caused congestion of the inner ear tube affecting my balancing. I have taken Bonamine for it tonight.
The Manila papers are making much of the supposed orders to certain Foreign Missions abroad bypassing the Sec. of Foreign Affairs to study the instances of the proclamation of martial law.
The whole thing is false and silly as I have not even thought of issuing such an order for such a study to anyone.
[Juan] Johnny Ponce Enrile and I have been the only ones studying the possible legal requirements for a proclamation of martial law if the need arises. This is a part of the old contingency plan.
I attach the message of Sec. [Francisco] Tatad on this.
Vice Pres. [Fernando] Lopez, tonight at the cocktail given by Delegate Sotero Laurel at
Official Gazette for December 30, 1971: THE PRESIDENT tarried in Baguio City. He put off his plan to return to Manila, and summoned the provincial officials of Ilocos Norte led by Governor Elizabeth Marcos-Keon, for a functional meeting, to discuss the problems and economic development needs of the province.
At a meeting with Manila newsmen covering him, the President reviewed the administration performance during the past year, and predicted that the coming new year would be a “year of bitter debate on fundamental problems, and also of critical decisions.
He cited the work being undertaken by the Constitutional Convention which would soon be up for debate among the populace; and the rapidly changing political situations in the whole world particularly in the Southeast Asia, and the move toward the neutralization of the region.
his house, did a most stupid and petty thing. He confronted Gov. Benjamin Romualdez for his having allegedly stuck his tongue out at the VP behind the latter’s back when he visited the Mansion about a year ago. The VP said this had been reported by his aide-decamp. And the VP demonstrated it by sticking his tongue out.
He must be irritable and short-tempered from lack of power, influence and money.
But Cocoy Romuldez was gracious, mature and polished in handling the situation. The crowd was predominantly oppositionist and hostile.
So Cocoy merely answered that he has not done such a childish act nor does he intend to but that he did not wish to agree with the VP’s aide-de-camp. However, whether he did it or not, he was apologizing to the VP for his peace of mind.
That if the VP had done such a horrendous act like killing his (Cocoy’s) four children, he (Cocoy) would probably shoot or kill the VP but not stick his tongue out at him.
He practically called the VP a childish and stupid man. But the VP probably did not have the intelligence to realize what was said to him.
Cocoy says, however, that the political opposition would not let us rest but would harass and persecute us if we ever lost political power.
This reminds me of the report of the Lighthouse luncheon of [Eugenio] Iñing Lopez [Sr.] with Sen. Gerry [Gerardo] Roxas, Chino [Joaquin] Roces, Nap [Napoleon] Rama [Sr.] etc. when Iñing Lopez, the VP’s brother said that after 1973 I should not be allowed to go scot free but should be prosecuted and presumably punished by imprisonment or worse.
The political opposition is getting vindictive and overly-sensitive and tense.
These are the dangerous men. Small boys with power.
Not only for our own good but for the good of the country, they must never be entrusted with power.