I received the following message from Amb. Carlos Valdez in Rome by telephone.
USec. [Carmelo] Barbero says:
- Not to worry about the proposals of MNLF [Moro National Liberation Front] because since then the situation has improved. In the conference yesterday, he believe he had the upper hand.
- USec. Barbero asks not to communicate directly with Pres. [Muammar] Khaddafi notwithstanding the proposals brought by Amb. Castro from the MNLF.
- In the conference today, he insisted that the Phil. will not agree to any infringement of territorial sovereignty or anything that would violate our constitution.
During the conference he told Atraz that any ruling by the chair would be considered just a personal opinion and would not be necessarily honored by the Philippine panel. - They took this into consideration and agreed that anything objected to by USec. Barbero would be-set aside for appeal to me (Pres. Marcos) and Pres. Khaddafi.
- USec. Barbero insisted that Art. 2 of the Tripoli Agreement of Dec. 23, 1976 should not be considered independently of Art. 16 because Art. 2 independent of Art. 16 would be a violation of our constitution and cannot be enforced without a referendum.
- The present posture in the negotiations is that [Nur] Misuari can propose but it is Pres. Marcos who disposes because at this point for example when they were insisting on the security forces USec. Barbero’s position is that this is premature and should be left to the discussion between the autonomous region and the national government.
- The opinion expressed by the Committee of Four are not necessarily binding. Rather it is the Tripoli Agreement that should govern the talks.
- He is concerned that we are worried and we might call Pres. Khaddafi but he would prefer to know about it before the call.
We can use the Tripoli Agreement to answer all the demands of Misuari. - All his Back-Up people specially Puno are doing all right.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.
Called up again just now and he was more optimistic. “Kaya ko ito, Charlie.” Contrary to yesterday when he was a bit depressed and irritated.
He believes he will be able to handle it.
They, the Libyans, MNLF and Islamic Conference were stunned today by the position he took that was firm and uncompromising.
He impressed on them that the Philippines is on a no-nonsense attitude.
He is not cocky or over-confident. But his now more optimistic.
I directed USec. Barbero to follow my instructions of firmness, to repeat the position that we will go through with the plebiscite and the regional government which is an internal matter—with or without the participation of the MNLF and the Islamic Conference and that we abide by our agreement in accordance with our constitution.
I also directed him to stand put on the positions we have taken in the various points at issue and not to compromise; and that my reading of the situation is still that the Libyans specially Ali Al Treki and Atraz, the Islamic Conference like Sec. Gen. Karim Gaye and the MNLF are merely exerting pressure to get all possible concessions but if we stick to our guns they will back down; and that he should not be intimidated by them.
I do not intent to talk to Pres. Khaddafi directly yet. The situation does not call for it.