Tonight I am convinced that there has been a crucial turn for the better in Sulu on the problem of rebellion and secessionism.
I met Hadji Faisal Radjae, one of the lenders in Jolo Island in the Indanan-Parang area. He came to Manila brought by Ex-Sec. Manuel Syquio and Capt. Domingo of the PSU [Presidential Security Unit] after he had met his colleagues, the other leaders of the rebels who are not Maoists, among them Maas Bawang, Tupay Loong, Maldisan and Nasser Usman, to see me and formally offer their cooperation and willingness to fight the Maoists if necessary.
But we will have to keep this quiet in the meantime as I would like to see the Maoists taken by surprise if possible.
This may mean peace in Sulu soon. But we will have to do away with the leadership of Gov. [Murphy] Sangcula, Cong. [Indanan] Anni and the mayors who are hiding out in Jolo. They are held in contempt by the people for being corrupt and dishonest.
But the Maoists are losing their hold on the civilian population as they are beginning to tax or extort money from everyone.
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Official Gazette for November 1, 1973: THE PRESIDENT said that the government has no intention of utilizing the Philippine International Trading Corp. to take over in any way the private sector’s present channels of export and import. The statement was issued by the President in view of some apprehensions in the business circles, particularly abroad, that the PITC would take over some export and import channels. The PITC, however, would be available immediately to normalize the price situation during emergencies, as in the case of shortages of food, fuel, steel, animal feeds, and fertilizers, as well as in any conspiracy to rig artificially the prices of essential commodities.
THE PRESIDENT issued a proclamation declaring Sunday, November 4, this year, as President Carlos P. Garcia Day in the province of Bohol and the City of Tagbilaran. The day marks the 77th birth anniversary of the late fourth President of the Republic and first president of the 1971 Constitutional Convention. In his proclamation, the President said that the people of Bohol, the birthplace of President Garcia, should be given full opportunity to pay homage to one of their province’s greatest sons.
THE PRESIDENT created an administrative committee to manage a portion of land set aside as a Muslim housing village in Bicutan, Taguig, Rizal. The committee, created through Letter of Instructions No. 142 will take charge of operations for the establishment of the Maharlika Village, conceived to give substance to the policy of the government concerning the economic, social and cultural development of Muslim Mindanao. Named chairman of the administrative committee was the executive secretary. Appointed members were the presidential assistant for housing and resettlement, and the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
PHILIPPINE trade representatives in Jakarta, Indonesia reported that the country is a good market for Philippine-manufactured optical lenses. The number of spectacle-users in the country as estimated by the Indonesian Optical Association, is placed at 1.5 per cent of the population or roughly 1,800,000 persons with a growth rate of 1.5 per cent annually. The demand, according to the study, will stem from the present number of spectacle-users who will be needing replacement spectacles or parts and from the accretion of new wearers to this group. Secretary of Trade Troadio T. Quiazon Jr. was informed that Indonesia still relies on imports of this item. There are two optical manufacturing companies in Indonesia but the production capacities of these two manufacturers are “relatively small.”