[p.22] This is the day of many decisions. Laurel is beginning to buy votes for the Speakership. He has called a caucus on Sunday for this purpose.
Why did I write Oct. 10th—that is Betty Campos’ birthday; she is with us in the family dining room with Joe [Campos] for dinner—as I write this at 11:00 PM.
I have ordered the study of the nullification of the congressional elections in Batanes so I can call a special election but the Comelec [Commission on Elections] [Jaime] Ferrer, [Cesar] Miraflor and [Lino] Patajo says they think there is a hiatus in the law and that their power to nullify is in grave doubt. So I have suggested that they pass a resolution that no one has been elected because in the five towns only in one (the capital of Basco) has there been peaceful and free elections. The Speaker of the House would then be compelled to certify to a vacancy in Batanes. Then I would call a special election.
Have ordered that Commodore [Manuel] Cabal, the commander of the South West Downward, and who is from Batanes, go to Batanes with a squad of Marines to give protection to the people there.
The groups supporting ex-Speaker Villareal for speakership have asked me to remain neutral in the speakership fight and will take this stand in the caucus next Tuesday. The reasons they ([Nicanor] Yñiguez who has withdrawn at my prompting, [Emilio R.] Miling Espinosa, [Jose] Joe Alberto, [Floro] Floring Crisologo) gave for opposing Laurel is that Banjo Laurel, mayor of Tanauan and son of the Speaker, has been withdrawing funds from the House, signed by [Salvador] Encinas, chairman of the Committee on accounts and monopolizes all contracts of the House.
Have ordered a tariff and tax free zone to be established in the Nayong Pilipino at MIA [Manila International Airport]; the release of P2.2 million for the new fringe terminal at MIA and the preparation of the runway for the Jumbo Jets. We need to add two inches on the surface. Conferred with Sec. Leo[nides] Virata, CAA [Civil Aeronautics Administration] Administrator Federico Ablan and MIA Airport Manager Luis Tabuena.
Boni reports a new assassination plot by the same group masterminded by [Eleuterio] Terry Adevoso. Malacañang is under sector North Manila leadership of which was offered to [Jose] Joe Maristela, former CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] head, now our informant.
[p.23] Everybody is suggesting that Imelda take over the efforts at improving tourism. 800,000 to one million tourists visit Hongkong yearly, 400,000 to Bangkok—but only 120,000 to Manila.
So I have asked that all airlines, new and old, be allowed to land in the Philippines without limit at least for one year—the year of Expo 70. We should know then how this will affect our domestic airlines. My feeling is this will build up so much traffic that they will have their share of the increase.
The Chief of Police of Angeles City (a Lumanlan) and a relative of Gov. [Francisco] Nepomuceno, more accurately Mrs. [Juanita] Nepomuceno who is a Lumanlan, has just been killed. The PC surmise that a man of Mayor Suarez did it as Nepomuceno is feuding with Commander Sumulong who is in partnership with Mayor Suarez. Nepomuceno is in turn in partnership with Commander Dante.
So I will let them finish off each other in the meantime. But we have got to get in and finish all of them before they wreck the entire government.
I feel, however, that the Barrio Home Defense Force of five or ten men per barrio is the answer to the Huk movement.
MALACAÑANG