We have just come from Clark Air Force Base where we went to meet the Filipino Prisoners of War (106 of them) at 6:00 PM leaving by Fokker (Imelda in the Central Bank King Air).
Only the Filipinos were received directly by their families—and emotionally.
We have sent 295 officers and men of the Kamagong Battalion of Gen. [Fortunato] Abat’s 3rd Brigade and 20,000 pounds of supplies to Cotabato with 9 C-47’s and 3 Fokkers including my back-up plane.
Official Gazette for March 5, 1973: THE PRESIDENT and the First Lady led Philippine government officials and other groups in welcoming the two Filipino prisoners of war who arrived at Clark Air Force Base in Pampanga together with American and German POW’s. The President flew to the American base to personally welcome Conrado Badua and Arturo Balagot, the two returning POW’s from Hanoi. Accompanying the President, aside from the First Lady, were Secretary of Information Francisco S. Tatad and Secretary of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile. In a brief speech following the welcome of Badua and Balagot, the President thanked the United States military and civilian authorities, as well as the American people for extending to the two Filipino POW’s the same facilities given to released American POW’s.
THE PRESIDENT lauded the boy scouts movement for giving underprivileged and out-of-school youths an opportunity to improve themselves and to participate in community development activities. In a speech read for him by Secretary of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile during the launching of the 10th Regional Jamborette at the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in Gattaran, Cagayan, the Chief Executive observed that the new projects of the scouting movement are geared to provide the less privileged boys training for big, significant tasks. It was stressed that the jamborette in Cagayan is in line with the principles of the New Society of building a new order where the people may live in justice, peace, dignity and prosperity. He informed the scouts that he has directed all heads of departments, bureaus and agencies of the government, including the local governments, to extend the fullest support to the movement and its various projects.
BUREAU OF FORESTRY, the Reforestation Administration, and the Parks and Wildlife Office have been abolished and in their place, the Bureau of Forest Development has been created to achieve maximum efficiency in the protection and conservation of the nation’s forest resources. The functions of the new bureau include the following: economical, efficient and effective classification, protection and conservation of public forests and forests reserves; implementation of multi-use and sustained-yield management of public forest; preparation of a comprehensive program of forest research; protection, development and preservation of national parks, games, and wildlife laws; and the carrying out of a continuing program of kaingin management within the public forests;
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT Administration has launched a massive drive to raise the viability of some 355 farmers cooperatives operating in strategic sections of the country. The drive, started last month, was initially launched in Eastern Visayas and in the northwestern part of Mindanao comprising the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte. The immediate objectives of the campaign are the following: to maximize loan collections; to change erring management officials; to eliminate non-farmers from membership in the cooperatives; and to select cooperatives for concentrated build-up. The ACA also announced the suspension of its functions of organizing and registering farmers cooperatives and associations pending the promulgation of the necessary policies and procedures by the newly organized Bureau of Cooperative Development under the Department of Local Government and Community Development. The new bureau is charged with the promotion, organization, and registration of all types of cooperatives.
The 4th Battalion of NORTHEASTCOM under Col. Bautista is being moved without waiting for Lt. Col. Edon Yap’s battalion to move to take its place in Isabela.
Lebak is still threatened. Lt. Col. Vanagloriosa has been withdrawn from Maganoy and returned to his 54 PC [Philippine Constabulary] Battalion headquarters in Tacurong.
The naval units from Sowescom [Southwest Command] did not arrive at 3:00 PM. They are expected 8:00 PM. They should be there now.
There are reports of armed men in the vicinity of the airport in Awang.
Gen. [Romeo] Espino recommends a change of the command structure as there seems to be some confusion. Col. Alcoseba apparently has reported so. I directed that he be brought from Jolo to Cotabato as the 4th Brigade Commander to look into the situation.
This evening I told Admiral [Noel] Gayler the CINCPAC [Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet] that the situation in Cotabato worries us and we urgently need helicopters, mortars, recoil-less rifles and C-123’s.
I told him we would formally ask for a Mutual Defense Board meeting to inform the military of the U.S. of the situation and that our intention was not to involve the U.S. in what we consider at present as an internal matter but which could become an external problem which would involve them if we did not get the proper arms.
He asked what time-frame I had in mind. I immediately said we hoped to counter-attack within the week and we hoped the support weapons and transport would be available before the counter-attack.
I surprised him when he asked if we were planning to withdraw the men in the two surrounded battalions and I answered the men wanted to keep their positions and counter-attack provided they can be reinforced and resupplied.
This caused him to comment “The best weapon is men who want to fight.”
I have written Pres. Suharto a handwritten thank you letter for his refusal to be dragged in our internal affairs. I attach my original and first draft.