1:00 AM Aug. 28th
[Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] has turned the Military Commission (No. 2) trying him, into a political forum. He delivered his usual demagogueries. I attach the report with copy of his speech.
Trial postponed for a week upon request of the Supreme Court for that length of time to study the case brought by his lawyers for prohibition and preliminary injunction.
I am toying with the idea of ordering the review of all cases filed against detainees including Aquino, by the Sec. of Justice and trial by the civil courts instead of by a Military Commission.
Official Gazette for August 27, 1973: THE PRESIDENT ordered the immediate increase in the authorized capital-of the National Housing Corporation to enable the government firm to manufacture low-cost housing components and construct low-cost housing units for the ordinary wage-earners. In Letter of Instructions No. 118, the President stated that the increase of capital from P100 million to P250 million of common shares of stocks will enable the NHC to pay its foreign loan obligations which it incurred in acquiring capital assets such as plants and equipment. The President directed the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine National Bank, National Investment and Development Corporation, the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System to subscribe and pay for such additional shares of the NHC common stocks to enable the housing firm to meet its existing foreign loan obligations.
DEPARTMENT of Justice has ruled that under the Civil Engineering Law, a corporation could not be organized and registered for the purpose of practicing civil engineering. Acting Secretary Catalino Macaraig Jr. issued this opinion in reply to a query from the chairman of the Board of Examiners for Civil Engineers of the Civil Service Commission. Secretary Macaraig cited Sec. 24 of R.A. 544, as amended by R.A. 1582, and otherwise known as the Civil Engineering Law which read in part: “The practice of Civil Engineering is a professional service, admission to which must be determined upon individual, personal- qualifications. Hence, no firm, partnership, corporation, or association may be Registered or licensed as such for the practice of civil engineering.” The justice chief said that the language of the above-quoted provision gives no room for doubt that no juridicial person may now practice civil engineering.
CONTINUED surge in the Philippines’ external performance increased by P21 million the country’s money supply for a total of P7,121 million at the end of July, 1973. Central Bank statistics showed that supply at the end of July 1973 went up contraseasonally by P21 million or 0.3 per cent. The external sector increased money supply by P207 million as foreign transactions realized a surplus of P27 million in July 1973. One factor given by CB monetary experts for the upward movement of money supply was the continued improvement in the performance of the external sector. Also contributing to the increase in money supply was the private sector which pumped in P194 million to the total money stock, principally due to the increase in credits to the private sector which rose by P335 million.
BUREAU of Customs and the Embroidery Apparel Control Inspection Board signed a memorandum of agreement defining the jurisdiction and area of responsibility of the two government agencies in relation to the operation of the multi-million peso embroidery export industry of the country. Undersecretary of Finance and concurrently EACIB Secretary Alfredo Pio de Roda Jr. and Customs Commissar Rolando Geotina inked the agreement during simple ceremonies held at the conference hall of the bureau. The two officials stressed that with the delineation of the areas of responsibilities and jurisdiction, there will be a more effective supervision over some 40 embroidery factories.
I have directed the final typing of the “Notes on My Vision of a New Society,” “the Philosophy of the New Society” or “Why a New Society.”
The other portions of my manuscript will go into two other books: 1. Martial Law in the Philippines 2. Barangay (my account of the building of a New Nation).