The Senate has rejected (at 10:30 PM) the Roxas appeal to the Senate of the Committee on Judiciary decision to suspend the investigation of the [Eduardo] Quintero raid by a 10-10 vote with Sen. Magnolia Antonio abstaining, [Alejandro] Almendras voting against (after I had talked to them, Magnolia with a little heat when she kept referring to her conscience and I ended by saying that I merely wanted her to know that I was asking a favor and [Genaro] Magsaysay being called to vote in favor at 6:30 PM violating his promise to be absent.
This strengthens our position to let the judiciary decide the issue of the legality of the issuance of the search warrant and its execution.
And strengthens the persuasive powers of the Presidency.
It also presents an image of unity among the Nacionalistas specially after Vice President [Fernando] Lopez read my speech yesterday on Independence Day.
The speech has been well received. The Americans, however, must be disturbed by it as I call the bases a limitation of our sovereignty.
It is necessary to adopt a forthright stand on the bases to remind the Americans that we are doing them a favor by granting it and they should acknowledge it with the extension of the Laurel-Langley agreement, the support of our self-reliant military plans and the exclusion of long range missiles and nuclear weapons from our country.
Official Gazette for June 13, 1972: THE PRESIDENT, feeling a little bit better, conferred with Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing on the full-scale implementation of the flood control program in Manila and environs.
The President and the Mayor agreed on the immediate implementation of the following projects:
1) The Marikina-Mangahan channel to provide a passageway for the Marikina River water to Laguna de Bay, which otherwise would flood Manila and environs.
2) The Laguna de Bay-Pasig River Hydraulic lock, and
3) Pasig River enbankment construction, dredging of esteros, and sewerage.
Among other actions, the President directed the Department of Commerce and Industry, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Travel and Tourist Industry to accelerate all their combined efforts in pushing the government’s exports promotion drive.
The President singled out the establishment of a Philippine House in areas where the Philippines suffers an imbalance in trade. This include Australia, West Germany, Canada, Singapore, Japan and Hongkong.
The President likewise directed:
1) The Secretary of Commerce, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, the Commissioner; of Customs, the Civil Aeronautics Administration and the general manager of the Manila International Airport to expedite the establishment of an enlarged tax-free store at the MIA to serve tourists;
2) The Secretary of Commerce to exert every effort to make full utilization of commercial attaches abroad.
The President observed that economic reporting from these attaches has been below standard.
I am still weak as I found out when I tried to exercise but I remember how I received the Gold Cross (Anahaw Leaf) when I led the men in breaking out of an encirclement Panupdupan, Kiangan although I was in the infirmary burning with fever and chilling from pneumonia in 1945 at the start of the enemy attack.
So I have decided to personally lay the wreath at the Unknown Soldier’s Tomb tomorrow on Besang Pass or USAFIP, NL [United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon] Day.
How soft and flabby peace has made of us! I feel a little bit shamed by the recollection of my soldiering days!
I attach one of the letters of Charles Lindbergh who has been active on conservation. As well as J. G. Harrar, President of the Rockefeller Foundation.