1:00 PM Mar. 5th
The situation in Cotabato has deteriorated. Confirmed is the wiping out of the 21-man detachment of Lt. [Calindada?] at Maganoy, the presence of 15 Malaysian officers as advisers, foreign guns and foreign-trained troops in the province landing in Lebak and Linao Bay joining up with locally-trained Muslims. The estimated enemy strength (conservative) is 3,000 men. Amb. [Henry] Byroade say U.S. estimate is 4,000 armed men.
The 91-man detachment in Lebak under Maj. Latemora is beleaguered by about 1,000 rebels and is threatened with extinction.
I have ordered the Kamagong Battalion in Cebu and the 4th under Col. Bautista in Isabela to be immediately airlifted to Cotabato, ships in Sowescom [Southwest Command] to go to the succor of Lebak, if necessary to pull out the troops and Airforce to continue pinpointing and hitting the enemy.
Official Gazette for March 4, 1973: THE FIRST LADY called upon the nation’s artists “to push forward across new frontiers and open up new territories in the quest for a new and better society,” In a brief speech before officers and members of the Art Association of the Philippines, the First Lady urged the artists to “help create a new world . . . where our traditions and our values will be at home . . . one that will be uniquely and honestly Filipino.” The First Lady was at the AAP’s award ceremony held at the Maharlika hall of Malacañang in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the association. At the ceremony, some 31 artists were awarded plaques for accomplishments which served to advance the cause of art in the country.
SECRETARY CONRADO F. ESTRELLA of Agrarian Reform emphasized that in agrarian reform, the important thing is not land transfer per se but the equitable distribution of natural wealth; not the profits to be derived from the land, but justice for the farmer who works to make the land profitable. In an address before a seminar sponsored by the Quezon Board of Realtors, the secretary cautioned his audience to understand fully the underlying rationale of the agrarian reform program “or all our efforts to build a New Society might be imperilled.” It was stressed that the attainment of land reform objectives is premised on the establishment of owner-cultivatorship and the economic family-size farm as the basis of Philippine agriculture.
FINALLY SETTLED is the controversial issue of whether personal cultivation by the landowner or a member of his family is a ground for ejecting a tenant. In a precedent-setting decision, the Court of Appeals has ruled that a tenant-farmer may now continue working under the leasehold system despite the threat of ejection by the landowner who wants to cultivate the land personally. The court decision was made in the case of a landowner who instituted legal action to expel his tenant who was cultivating a one-and-one-half hectare of rice land in San Pablo, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija. The decision was a reversal of a previous ruling by the Court of Agrarian Relations made two years ago in Cabanatuan City, ordering the tenant to vacate the land he was tilling. The court decision was hailed by Department of Agrarian Reform officials who called it a boon to the government’s land reform program.
ADMINISTRATOR Jesus Tanchanco of the National Grains Authority appealed for the support of local government leaders in the task of institutionalizing the grains industry as a means of hastening the country’s economic and social development. Addressing the fourth annual convention of the League of Provincial Governors and City Mayors in Davao City, the NGA chief said that the local officials are in good position to advice the NGA on the wisdom of its projects since the local executives “know best the conditions obtaining in your respective places.” The convention delegates were told to write down their suggestions affecting the rice and corn industry in their regions to serve as guidelines in the formulation of policies for the growth and development of the industry. They were also exhorted to encourage their constituents to eat more vegetables and change their wasteful habits which are costing the country some $50 million annually.
The troops in Cotabato will have to consolidate in the meantime and defend.
We must never forget this action of Sabah and Malaysia.
There is a pitiful lack of support weapons. The men in Lebak have only one tube of .81 mm mortar the ammo of which totals 45 rds 19 of which were duds.
Air-lift capability is limited to two fokkers and 14 C-47’s. Although we have cancelled all non-tactical flights. And I have released the Fokker back-up for me making 3rd Fokker out of 10 available. Spare parts for the model 100 engine is the problem.
Navy capability is deficient. The sea lanes from Borneo to Cotabato and Basilan have by no means been blocked. There is not a single naval ship (not even a PCF [Patrol Craft Fast]) in Cotabato.
And we are scrounging for reserves.
We may have to mobilize for Mindanao.