Have ordered the declassification of the tentative findings of Intelligence Operations “Sea Hawk”; the briefing of the Catholic hierarchy, foreign correspondents and even the military officers on an on-the-record and off-the-record basis.
This was after my conference with Mons. Mariano Gaviola, the Sec. Gen. of the Catholic Bishops, Father [Benigno] Mayo, Father Provincial of the Jesuits, Father Sungpayco of the Novitiate of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Novaliches and Mons. Antiporda, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila who accompanied the raiding team last Aug. 24th.
They all claimed ignorance of any subversive activities in the premises of the novitiate.
“A comedy of errors” Mons. Gaviola called it denoting their ignorance of the gravity of the offense committed. Father Mayo and Sungpayco took exception to the “orderly and peaceful manner” stated in Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile’s press release about the search of the Novitiate nor that the mid was conducted “with the full cooperation of the Catholic hierarchy.”
About the loss of $28 by the nuns I pointedly asked if they thought that the officers who supervised the teams would jeopardize their careers as PMA [Philippine Military Academy] graduates and regular officers for a few dollars.
I have a feeling that the priests were offended by the remark by Lt. Garcia of the raiding party that they (The Metrocom [Metropolitan Command]) were used to counter charges from criminals but not from priests and nuns. Father Healy or Hilly who accompanied the teams that went around alleged that the nuns had told him of the loss before the raiding team left the place. A physical body inspection of the nun was conducted by Col. Batalla. The result was negative.
I suspect Father Healy who is an accomplice of Father [Jose] Blanco of fabricating the charge.
They also denied as they did to the raiding party any knowledge of the PAG Report (P______ Action Group Report) an outline of infiltration of the church, the government and COs (Community Organizations).
No Official Gazette entry for this day.