Ex-Pres. [Diosdado] Macapagal has just announced tonight that he is seeking asylum in the U.S. Embassy.
Poor man. He must be a pitiful sight. A has-been trying hard to be noticed and to play Don Quixote de la Mancha!
If Ambassador [William] Sullivan wrote the script, they deserve each other.
Is this why Ambassador Sullivan left Manila for Washington as early last week when the military negotiations start April 12th.
The book written by Ex-Pres. Macupagal entitled “Democracy—the Philippines” is a recant of the minority position of some lawyers and justices in the plebiscite and martial law cases started by [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] [no?].
Worse things have been said by [Lorenzo] Tañada, [Jose] Diokno, Aquino, [Jovito] Salonga and Trike.
We will ignore the incident—
I have asked USee. [Manuel] Collantes to tell the American chargé d’affaire [sic] that there is no warrant of arrest or threat against Ex-Pres. Macapagal and we will help him go wherever he wants to go—even to the U.S.
The chargé told MGen. [Fabian] Ver and USec. Collantes that “Political asylum is out.” They must be embarrassed by the Macapagal “escape” to their premises.
Official Gazette for April 1, 1976: THE PRESIDENT launched what he had earlier described as a “broad national sweep” of local government officials by terminating the services of four city mayors and nine provincial governors. Those separated from office included Mayors Norberto Amoranto of Quezon City and Marcial Samson of Caloocan City.
THE PRESIDENT keynoted the formal inauguration and start of the three-day conference of the Federation of Asean Shippers Council (FASC) with delegates from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines in attendance.
CONSTRUCTION of the 675-Kms. Central Luzon road projects under the second International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan package is now 65 percent complete.