[p.29] Addressed the first convention of priests at 8:30 AM. More ad lib than the prepared text. Charming speech so Josefina Constantino[1] said.
Have told the congressmen we should keep [Jose B.] Laurel as Speaker in the whole morning and afternoon caucus. All the workers for the junta were for Laurel after I told them I was.
But the junta and I, first, had to announce for the consumption of the public that we could not intervene in purely internal matters of the House, unless the House members themselves asked us to personally intervene.
After this, I called a conference of Cong. Ramon Durano, Nicanor Yniguez, [Mohammad] Ali Dimaporo, [Constantino] Uging Navarro, [Jose] Joe Alberto, [Emilio R.] Miling Espinosa, and [Floro] Floring Crisologo to tell them that inasmuch as they are the leaders of Ex-Speaker [Cornelio] Villareal, it was their duty to inform him of my decision and that the most ideal situation would be for Villareal to withdraw. Then I asked Villareal and Laurel to come into the conference room and notified each in turn of my efforts to prevent an open fight.
A committee of six, three from Laurel’s side (Majority Floor Leader [Marcelino] Veloso, Asst. Floor Leader [Rogaciano] Mercado and [James] Chiongbian) then three on Villareal’s side ([Nicanor] Yniguez, [Jose] Alberto and Ali Dimaporo) was organized to prepare amendments to the rules of the House.
Because of the ramifications of the [Eleuterio] Adevoso plot, I must include Johnny Ponce Enrile in the counter-planning—and perhaps Joe, Col. Fidel Ramos and the NBI.
Played golf at [Bahay] Pangarap with the Malacañang reporters. Pain in the groin has disappeared. The doctors, Dr. Yap and P[acifico] Marcos, think it was just a muscle sprain.
[p.30] But Imelda gets operated on at Veterans Memorial Hospital 6:00 AM on the 16th and will sleep at the hospital tomorrow.
MALACAÑANG
[1] J. D Constantino (born 1920) prominent University of the Philippines professor and writer entered a Carmelite monastery and is now known under the religious name, Sister Teresa Joseph Patrick of Jesus and Mary.