Called Father Jose Blanco to Malacañang with Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile, Gens. [Fidel] Ramos, [Fabian] Ver and [Prospero] Olivas to convince him to work for our reforms and support the government. He was agreeable and stated that he would ask that government agents operate with them and report if they did anything subversive.
I opened the conversations in Ilocano I reminded him of the time he said mass for us retreatants at Mirador, Baguio in 1969 when he used ordinary bread as the host, breaking with tradition. He replied that his attention was called by the archbishop because he did not use unleavened bread as required by the regulations of the church. He also informed us that his father had been governor of Benguet.
He strikes me as frustrated, as well us a visionary.
I have agreed to meet the other 20 detainees who have requested that they come to see me. “If he can meet with the Muslims, why can he not meet us,” they asked Father Blanco.
Since I have decided to release all of them on guarranty [sic], I will listen to them. Their organization is neutralized and they will cause more prejudice inside than outside.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.