April 7, 1970

Tuesday

I write this also at 11:30 PM at Dole Phil. in [Geronimo] Ronnie Velasco’s cottage.

Lazy day. Woke up at 9:00 AM. Golf at 10:00 to 12:00 AM. Lunch at 12:45 and then we heard the news of the earthquake. Intensity 7 at Manila, 5 in Laoag and Legaspi, 4 at Calapan and 3 at Cataruan. Epicenter of this tectonic earthquake 197 kms. North North East of Quezon City. Pedro Guevarra School Annex collapsed. It is now the center of relief operations. 51st Eng. [Engineer] Brigade, PC [Philippine Constabulary], PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion] and Red Cross there. 4 teachers recovered, one dead. 4 others in the city may be dead.

International and MIA [Manila International Airport] facilities for air navigation damaged. Temporary systems established.

[Alejandro] Alex Melchor [Jr.] and [Juan] Johnny Ponce Enrile apparently taking care of things very well.

Imelda cooked crab in banana leaves with garlic and ginger for dinner.

Talked to the children by the Dole wireless system through a phone patch at 2:00 PM and again at about 8:30 PM. Irene was more concerned about Pugger their Pekinese than about anything else. They were evacuated to [Bahay] Pangarap. Only one 10 inch vase Sang de berg [Oxblood?] of Imelda at the reception hall crashed. Parts of the chandeliers fell and Malacañang has some more cracks.

Dinner and reminiscences of criminal practice and Yamashita’s treasure and the war up to 11:00 PM with Ronnie and Linda and Paul and Phyllis Sink.

Office of the President

of the Philippines

Malacañang

11:55 PM April 8, 1970[1]

Wednesday

Malacañang Palace

Went to bed at 12:30 last night and woke up at 5:30 AM. Heli to the coffee plantation at the knoll which is about 3,000 feet less high. The housing site of Dolephil [Dole Philippines] is 2,100 feet above sea level. Unusually warm but a continuing 15 knot breeze from the east.

Took off for Davao at 7:30 AM. Davao City at 8:00 AM. No hostile demonstrators. To the conference of bishops where Mons. [Lino Rasdesales] Gonzaga [Archbishop of Zamboanga] and Velasco[2] were present. Then to the inauguration of two city cemented streets. People very enthusiastically waving to us and shaking hands, running out of their houses to see us.

Took off for Manila at 9:30 AM. Uneventful trip but ceiling high. Estimated 15,000 feet. Landed at 11:50 AM. Inspected the temporary tower (navigational lent by the 13th Air Force as our MIA [Manila International Airport] tower was knocked out by the earthquake). Then to the Pedro Guevarra School that collapsed. Built by the city and inaugurated only last February. Faulty construction—powdery cement. Covered by television-radio. Went to the top of the debris with the volunteer workers.

Bongbong says he never knew he could run so fast downstairs. He first fell flat on the floor of his room and then ran out. So with Irene but she returned to pick up Pugger the Pekinese who was sour because he had been awakened.

2:00 PM Conference on the legislative program with the legislative leaders. Minimum wage, export tax and the budget.

PHILCAG [Philippine Civic Action Group] funds check with Johnny [Juan] Ponce Enrile, [Ernesto] Mata, [Caberos?], [Mathay?], and Dumlao.[3]

Office of the President

of the Philippines

Malacañang

11:50 PM April 9, 1970[4]

Malacañang Palace

Just played golf with Bobby [Roberto Benedicto] and massage. Then a briefing by Col. [Fabian] Ver on the [Eleuterio] Adevoso plot on a coup d’etat. All team leaders for the kidnapping or assassination of [Ernesto] Maceda, [Vicente] Raval, [Roque] Ablan [Jr.], [Floro] Crisologo identified. But that for me as yet remains unknown to our asset Col. Jose Maristela. Adevoso may be replaced by Gen. [George] Sanchez as the leader of the operation. And there will be a big nation-wide rally on June 19th where they will have killer, looter and stealer as well as arson groups. Loot will be distributed to the squatters in Tondo.

But what surprised our asset was that Jimmy Propongco brought him to the VIP Bldg. where the others—[Juan] Daza, Sanchez, etc. except Adevoso were and in a few minutes [Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.] came into the room and asked to be briefed on the progress of the respective conspirators. Osmeña is quoted as saying that [Henry] Byroade is sympathetic. [Jovito] Salonga is supposed to be in the know.

This places a new and dangerous aspect to the plot. Because for the first time, Osmeña is confirmed as the mastermind and the financier of the plot. We must know the men assigned to assassinate me. And the other participants of the plot. But we must be quiet until it is necessary to move.

Went to Bataan by 777 after receiving the UN [United Nations] Secretary General [U Thant] at 7:00 AM. He stays with us as our official guest. Returned at 1:00 PM to arrive at 4:30 PM.

Met labor leaders on the minimum wage at 5:00 PM. Will meet the chamber leaders tomorrow morning. Then a joint meeting of the congressional leaders and labor leaders on Monday with me.

Office of the President

of the Philippines

Malacañang

12:30 PM April 10, 1970[5]

Malacañang

Have just met with Minister Adam Malik of Indonesia after the state dinner for U[N] Sec. Gen. U Thant. Foreign Minister [Sinnathamby] Rajaratman of Singapore also here.

Warned him of [Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.] and his partner Larry Truckman who has a lurid past of gun running and selling in South America.

Postponed trip of Pres. Suharto to the Philippines, because of Maoist plot to embarrass him and me, from May to latter part of this year.

Discussed the Cambodian question. He feels the ICC [International Criminal Court] should be brought and backed to drive away the Vietcongs so that Cambodia can be neutral.

U Thant was able to address the joint session of Congress where he was cheered not only by the members but by the picketers for a higher minimum wage.

But he may be embarrassed in the UP [University of the Philippines] as 200 graduates have anticipated their desire to stand up and leave if he addresses the graduation. So there will be a private ceremony in the President’s office of the UP.

We certainly have come down to a new low in international stature.

And we will have to do something about this when I have finished with the economic questions of Circular 289, the export tax and minimum wage.

Met with [Jose] Joe Maristela whom I must introduce to Johnny [Juan Ponce Enrile] so we can prepare the legal aspects of the case of plotting a coup d’etat. We will infiltrate the plotters with our men from the PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion] or PSU [Presidential Security Unit]. And prepare alternative plans.

Office of the President

of the Philippines

Malacañang

11:25 PM April 11, 1970[6]

Malacañang

Have just finished the state dinner for the One Asia Assembly delegates. Pleasant evening.

Spoke before them this morning on the New Directions for Asia; that “unless by One Asia we mean a Communist Asia, exported war is a reality. And for some time to come, exported war will be the most awesome obstacle to unity in Asia.” “We must create a situation in Asia where the condemnable acts of any superpower will be met by such a general censure by the small nations that the superpowers cannot disregard it. . .” “How can you computerize the Asian spirit and place the Asian soul on the scales of the material world?”

Then met the jeepney drivers headed by Pelagio Villegas and Atty. Lazaro. I will induct their officers on Monday before the conferences on the minimum wage of the congressional, industrial and labor leaders. They still insist on the lowering of the gasoline prices. But I have ordered the Public Service Commission to cancel the certificates of public convenience of jeepney operators who increase their boundary limits thus depriving the jeepney drivers of their share in the increase in rates.

Have started issuing titles to the slum dwellers of the Tondo foreshore land. Settled their conflicts, rerouted the Roxas Boulevard so as not to go through the mass of houses; and directed that the large tracts of land not needed by the [sic] such recipients like Don Bosco. The radicals cannot exploit the Tondo slums now. [Raul] Manglapus is however trying to incite a demonstration which I have been able to prevent.

MALACAÑANG

10:05 April 12, 1970[7]

Pangarap

An earthquake of Intensity V has forced us to transfer quarters temporarily to [Bahay] Pangarap, our one strong clubhouse or resthouse at the Malacañang Park at the other side of the Pasig [River]. Papers in possession of the Romualdezes indicate that Malacañang Park used to belong to the Romualdezes.

Have just introduced Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile to Ex-Col. Jose Maristela in the [Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.]-[Eleuterio] Adevoso plot to assassinate me and take over the government. Cut-off will be Eric Nubla between them and with Col. [Fabian] Ver.

We have just apprehended another of Commander Dante’s [Bernabe Buscayno] killers in the suburbs.

But the priests and nuns keep inciting the people of Tondo to demonstrate and the jeepney drivers to strike. Some nuns have even coerced the jeepney drivers threatening bodily harm, according to Atty. Lazaro and Pelagio Villegas, their leaders. A little unbelievable but they swear it is true as now the priests and nuns are using goons. Where has our pious church come to!

I have ordered Sec. O[nofre] D. Corpuz of Education to terminate classes after Tuesday because of the possible tragedies that may come out of a recurrence of earthquakes with the children in such school buildings like Pedro Guevarra School that collapsed. The roof of the Manila High School collapsed today.

Imelda cooked some ginataan na langka and ginataan na manok and curry for dinner. We asked Father Bautista the PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion] chaplain, Sec. Ponce Enrile and Neling Nieto to stay for dinner.

The children seem to like it better in this small house—better than the Palace anyway.

If the Osmeña-Adevoso plot (although now Adevoso who is supposed to have said that I seem to be doing alright and “perhaps we should join him” meaning me, according to Ex-Col. Jose Maristela, is being pushed out of leadership by Ex-Gen. George Sanchez) continues, I may be compelled to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. Their plan apparently is to burn Manila on Independence Day, loot and kill in a big (100,000 according to Osmeña) demonstration on Independence Day, June 12, 1970. Although according to Joe Maristela there was a disagreement between Col. Faustino David (Ex-Nica [National Intelligence Coordinating Agency]) and Osmeña as to the date, Osmeña saying it was supposed to be on July and David correcting him saying it was supposed to be June.

There were also more Lyceum students among the student demonstrators in UP [University of the Philippines] than UP students, on graduation day (yesterday when U Thant was supposed to address them).

Our people are beginning to feel restive and suggestions keep pouring in that we should do something about communism in the U.P.

But we should not stampede into drastic repression. We must still wait for any massive destruction or violence.

As the situation is today:

A New Communist Party (this [sic] are the Maoists) chairman of whom is an Amado Guerrero, the alleged nom de guerre of Jose Maria Sison, Arthur Garcia (reported by Gen. [Felizardo] Tanabe killed sometime on the 7th by men of Commander Dante) and the leaders of Kabataang Makabayan. Military head is of course Commander Dante with about 300 armed men.

The Old Communist Party Politburo known as the Traditionalists, inactive but now pressed into organizing their own armed bands with Commander Sumulong [Faustino del Mundo] as the nucleus. He has about 150 armed men. But he is more Mafia than ideologue and has refused to follow their leadership.

The front organizations for the communists:

Kabataan Makabayan and its own front organizations SDK [Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan].

The Masaka with Felixberto Olalia as leader although he lost to ______ in an election.

The Socialist Party in the Philippines under [Ignacio] Lacsina

The fellow travelers:

The Media people

The faculty and studentry of some universities

The worst groups are the political adventurers:

Osmeña and Adevoso

[Raul] Manglapus and the Christian Socialist Movement. To this group may belong such ambivalent do gooders like Father [Pacifico] Ortiz and [Jose] Blanco.

The evidence of the plots to overthrow the government indicate:

A full-blown communist plot with various liquidation squads active in Central Luzon and Manila and backed by an organized dedicated armed force.

The plot in the planning stage to take over the government by Osmeña. This includes the taking alive of Sec. [Ernesto] Maceda and Ex-Gen. [Vicente] Raval supposedly to testify in and substantiate the protest of Osmeña after I have been assassinated with Congressman [Roque] Ablan [Jr.] (Col. Faustino David assigned as team leader), Congressman [Floro] Crisologo (assigned is Jimmy Piopongco now on a mission to the U.S. either to get financial or armament backing), Cong. [Ramon] Durano (Mayor Borres, Bacalso, Nic Tumulak and brother assigned), Cong. [Jose] Alberto (Col. Juan Daza assigned), Congressman [Mohammad] Ali Dimaporo (Rashid Lucman assigned) and others.

In the last meeting at the VIP office of Osmeña where he was briefed, he spoke of a plan to burn Manila on June or July, Terry Adevoso was absent.

This group has put up a training ground in Samar and Iloilo for 300 men each. They claim to have 12,000 firearms not yet smuggled into the country.

They are apparently in touch with the communists as in the establishment of the training grounds they have been using and dropping the name of Commander Dante freely. And they have been seen in touch with both communist and student activists.

But as Adevoso explained in one of their meetings, they must take over the government ahead of the communists or if later they must be able to dislodge such communists without too much trouble.

They have done away with the original plan of a bloody revolution as messy in favor of a neat semi-legal coup d’etat.

Col. Jose Maristela who has sat in all their meetings confirm [sic] these facts. So does de Leon, our asset who has infiltrated the Samar Training Camp and Father Lava, the rector of San Agustin University (Iloilo) and his men, as well as Valdellon who insists the Liberal leaders including [Jovito] Salonga and Lucman plotted in the house of [Gerardo] Gerry Roxas sometime on Feb. 5, 1970.

Now comes the plan to burn Manila in a big demonstration in June or July.

The Manglapus-clerico plot to bring about a revolutionary situation which will force the government to capitulate to his Christian Socialist Movement in the coming elections for the Constitutional Convention and in the subsequent national elections of 1973.

Any kind of deterioration of the economy or erosion of the people’s faith in the government and its leaders is supposed to help their plan. So they finance, support and encourage demonstrations, strikes, violence, anarchy and even assassination.

It is their feeling that the Maoists and radicals or even the communists like Dante and Sumulong are paving the way for them.

Some well-to-do families and oligarchs like the Lopezes and the Zobels may be partially financing them as insurance or for any of their known or unknown reasons.

The various plotters and groups are trying to use each other for their own selfish purposes resulting in a kaleidoscope of plot and counter-plot that defied clarification but is just now beginning to fuse into one grand design.

When the government takes action, it must be able to liquidate not only one or several of the plots but ALL of them with one clean blow.

For the danger or crisis may not come during my administration but may explode in the face of a newly-inducted and therefore disoriented and unprepared neophyte in the Presidency who may stampede and run leaving our country and people to their devices. Then there will be anarchy. And the Armed Forces would take over.

Before the government moves on this front,

It must settle the problems in the economic front

In the meantime reorienting its intelligence organization and activities. I will now put up an integrated intelligence set-up.

It must exert the utmost pressure on the armed elements in Central Luzon preventing them from supporting the activities of the plotters in Manila.

The communists (Maoists and Traditionalists) should be encouraged to fight each other. Sumulong should be further motivated to go after Dante and his men.

We must sow dissension among the activists.

We must move faster on reforms—economic, social and political—specially.

Graft and corruption

Land Reform

Reorganization

MALACAÑANG

11:55 PM April 13, 1970[8]

Malacañang Palace

8:00 AM—Reorganizing by integrating the Intelligence of the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines]. Signed the order I dictated two months ago.

9:00 AM—Resumé of the situation in the Philippines, pp. 158-164[9] of this diary.

9:30 AM—Reassessment of the economic situation. Have decided to order the passage of a resolution by the Monetary Board imposing an across the board 10% export tax in effect if the Congress does not approve the export tax bill by Friday. The IMF [International Monetary Fund] cleared this Saturday. I warn the Senate tomorrow.

10:00 AM—Meeting with Pasang-Masda jeepney drivers to stop any strikes and work out the trust fund of P2.5 million for all jeepney drivers (although the oil companies committed P5 million).

11:00 AM—Conference with the legislative leaders on the minimum wage.

12:00 AM—Conference of labor leaders with Chamber heads ([Alfredo] Montelibano [Sr.] of Agri., [Julio] Francia of Industry, Manalo of Commerce and Lim of Int. Ch. of Commerce).

3:00 PM—Quezon Prov. [Province] Peasants

3:30 PM—Lunch

5:00 PM—Golf with Amb. Toshio Urabe, [Jose S.] Laurel, Greg [Gregorio] Licaros

10:00 PM—Gov. [Francisco] Nepomuceno and Rico, the man assigned to get Dante.

10:30-11:30 PM—Al Yuchengco and Mr. Tollenson of Frontier

MALACAÑANG

4:45 PM April 14, 1970[10]

Tuesday

Malacañang Palace

Wood Industries Chamber Induction—Requested them to help obtain the data of actual trees replanted and trees cut and to set up an amelioration fund like that of the sugar industry.

Basa Shoes asking for loans because of the fire.

Mayor, VM [Vice Mayor] and Councilors of Parang, Cotabato the center of smuggling in Southern Mindanao. The Bongo Island [Maguindanao] Sowescom [South West Command] detachment is not doing its job.

Met Gen. Ne Ulin [Ne Win], Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Burma since 1962. It is rumored that a coup d’etat is being executed against him tomorrow.

He must be confident though, to leave Burma with Mrs. Ne Ulin [ne Win] for Tokyo, Osaka and London—Osaka for Burma National Day on the 17th at Expo ’70 and London for medical treatment.

The general was garrulous but nervous. He made a running account of everything with little prodding on my part. He impresses me as a forceful man—even rough and ruthless. He speaks easily of killing. Trained by the Japanese in Hainan Island but he wanted to be a doctor.

He was a student leader against the British.

He has controlled insurgency in Burma. There are two groups of insurgents, according to him—the communist (Maoist and Russian oriented) and those organized by the British and the Americans.

He has nine children, six by his first wife and three by his previous wife.

He was close to the Chinese leaders, Chou En Lai, Lao Tsi, until the 1967 Chinese students’ killing of the Burmese.

Last December the students also had a demonstration in Rangoon. He wanted to know their leaders, so he allowed it, then arrested the leaders. Since then there have been no demonstrations.

In 1948 when Burma acquired independence, the Burmese government were in control only of Rangoon and one or two big towns without any link by land. Communication only by air, but they reduced the communist stronghold village by village.

The situation in Laos and Cambodia is uncertain. [Norodom] Sihanouk may still make a comeback with the help of the communist troops threat, but that would not be good—implying that Sihanouk would be captive.

The big powers always want to come back to a position of dominance.

Mrs. Ne Ulin [Ne Win] interjected during the conversation that the Burmese government is a dictatorship and Imelda hastily referred to the many suggestions that this was best for a developing country.

Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam are all small, weak and unstable countries.

Ne Ulin [Ne Win] is tall for an Asian, about 5 feet ten inches, balding and seems filled with nervous energy. He has Chinese features but is browner than yellow. He did not finish his medical course although he says he wanted to be a doctor. He was taken by the Japanese for military training and ended up as Chief of Staff of the Burmese Army. He is about sixty years old.

All the Manila Times columnists attacked my speech before the One Asia Assembly. Ernesto Granada of the Chronicle as usual was vicious calling it a comic relief. Even Joe [Jose] Guevara and Doroy [Teodoro] Valencia as well as J.V. Cruz criticized it. Joe Guevara said that my foreign policy speeches are below the par of my domestic speeches which are below par. I hope he plays golf some time so he may know what sub par means.

But my impression is that none of them have bothered to read my speech. The Manila Times columnists apparently were guided by the hand of [Joaquin] Chino Roces, their publisher. And the Chronicle as well as its prime columnist Granada moved by a general principle of hatred.

MALACAÑANG

10:00 AM April 15, 1970[11]

Told Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile at breakfast we should now implement the following plans:

Sow dissension in the ranks of the Huks by:

Revealing the letters of Dante [Bernabe Buscayno] and Sumulong [Faustino del Mundo] against each other and the acts of one band against the other.

The same among the activists

Jose Maria Sison against Dante

Nilo Tayag plotting against Dante

Ninoy [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] against Sumulong and Dante.

Dante will probably liquidate them. He liquidated Arthur Garcia on April 7, 1970 because of this.

Organize a fictitious Huk group for any purpose.

Organize the civilian volunteers against the subversives.

Ordinance

Booby traps

Exploding ammo to be planted for the Huks

Etc.

MALACAÑANG

10:15 PM April 15, 1970

Malacañang Palace

I have just come from Rizal Stadium where I opened the Asian Football Youth Tournament. There are 16 competing teams and the Tunku Abdul Ra[h]man cup is at stake. Our team tied with Laos in a fast-paced game that saw the Laotians ahead at 2-1 at 4 minutes to the end of the last half then a Phil. goal in two minutes and on to a tie.

There was an Intensity IV earthquake on the second game of Korea vs. Thailand, the two roughest teams in the tournament as Bongbong calls them. Korea won on a disqualification of the team for alleged Thai malicious fouls.

Signed the proclamation on the Magalang Agricultural Community Development project this morning. It sets aside 756 hectares for development by the Filipinas Foundation of Enrique Zobel.

Incidentally, he (Enrique) told me that [Ernesto] Maceda when removed as Executive Secretary handed over to [Benigno] Ninoy Aquino [Jr.] two duffel bags of documents—according to Ninoy. Since Ninoy is a “congenital liar” this is untrue. And what has Maceda or anyone to reveal. But Ninoy claims he has photostats but that [Roque?] Ablan Junior got back the duffel bags when Maceda was appointed Commerce Secretary—Enriquito implying that I was blackmailed into it which is a lot of hogwash as usual from Ninoy. But I can see that the Zobels do not like Maceda. Or more accurately, Ninoy Aquino is worried I am building up Maceda for President which is of course not true.

MALACAÑANG

12:15 AM April 16, 1970[12]

Malacañang Palace

I have the highest hopes for the Magalang Project to raise the standard of living of the peasants in Central Luzon. I will build infrastructures for them with the veterans of PHILCAG [Philippine Civic Action Group]. I will protect them with the Home Defense Forces. This is the secret to peace and order in Central Luzon—the villagers defending their own homes. I understand from Liberal Congressman-elect Sanga of the 2nd district of Pampanga, 3/4 of the legal cadres in Pampanga have been driven away by the HDF units organizing alone. The villagers know who the communists are.

I shall spread this idea all over the Philippines and into the cities by encouraging first the registration of guns then the training of the men who carry or possess them. Then defense for each block or building in a city can be built up by the Week-End Soldier concept.

Tomorrow Imelda starts her Tulungan project in Tondo. It is principally jobs, housing, food and medicines. I have given the people the land titles. But we make them work for these and help themselves. This is also a pilot project for slums and depressed areas.

Just a little hope for those in despair and we have the communists running.

But yesterday I stood firm on the jeepney drivers’ strike and ordered the Metrocom to arrest any of the drivers violating the law and the strikers backed down. There was no violence and no disruption of transportation.

Today I had lunch with [Eraño] Ka Erdie Manalo after I settled the GSIS [Government Social Insurance System] demonstrations. Received plenty of intelligence from the most unlikely sources.

MALACAÑANG

7:35 AM April 17, 1970[13]

Malacañang

The Kabataang Makabayan has gone to the provinces to “learn from the people”—actually teach-ins. In Arayat, the police (municipal) arrested the UP Collegian editor and others for showing a Red Chinese film without permit. This group issued a statement through the media that they were brought to Camp Olivas and beaten up. The truth is they were in the custody of the Arayat police all the time and were not touched at all.

There should be immediate counter-action by the local leaders against these communist teach-ins.

Let us locate some anti-communist films showing what the Huks have done and intend to do.

Prepare propaganda leaflets for distribution. We can start with my letter to my children and the primer.

The political leaders must now be taught how to conduct their own teach-ins.

MALACAÑANG

11:25 PM April 17, 1970

Malacañang Palace

Suffered from too much durian which I ate when hungry. Relieved by three doses of gelusil and some food.

After the confidential conferences in the morning, lunch with the Investors Association at Alta Vista which according to [Geronimo] Ronnie Velasco has been condemned because of the earthquakes.

2:30—3:00 PM—Met with Greg[orio] Licaros and Cesar Virata on the Monetary Board meeting which was supposed to pass as amendment to Circular 289 (80-20 retention scheme for the big four; copra, logs, sugar and copper) so that it becomes a ten percent across the board tax on all exports in excess of P5 million in 1968.

But the senators who have been told of the holding back of exports because of the expectation momentarily of the passage of the lower export tax bill—are standing pompously and pettily on their hurt pride. “If the monetary board can do it, why should we?” is Sen. Jose Diokno’s expression of Senate feeling.

So we have had to postpone action until next week.

Tulungan was inaugurated by Imelda in Tondo this morning. Big success and turn out.

MALACAÑANG

11:13 PM April 18, 1970[14]

Malacañang

Have just had dinner with the children while Imelda took dinner with Lindy and Cecille Locsin. A lot of ribbing and punning with the children. Imee reported that her mother “is the biggest cheater in the J[o]ane Drew exercises.” In the sit-ups from lying on the back, she pushes up with her hands on the floor. On the bending to touch the toes opposite the touching hand, she spreads her legs so wide there is no effort to bend, etc. etc. They were all good-naturedly reporting to me that after the ladies go through the exercises, they order all kind[s] of food from the restaurants “so now mommy has gained one pound.” All of them have big hips “forty inches.” That is bigger than my chest at 37 inches I commented. Bongbong proudly claimed that he has only six inches to catch up with me—which claim the girls in a chorus questioned. A jolly good time—then my barber and dentist, the latter working on the teeth left by the Japanese Kempei Tai in Fort Santiago.

Ordered the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation], the CIS [Criminal Investigation Service], PC [Philippine Constabulary] and Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] to give support to the investigations of Rep. Pablo Ocampo on vices on corruption in the city which involves the mayor and his brothers, police officers and Chinese—as well as an area commander of the Metrocom, Lt. Col. [Norberto] Calderon who has asked to be relieved.

Last night there was a story that Commander Dante [Bernabe Buscayno] was in the Far Eastern University Hospital for slipped disk—but negative results of a check.

We must reactivate the assignment of highly trained squads to track down and get each Huk commander. The squad leader who is a highly trained officer should do nothing but think and act on his mission.

MALACAÑANG

1:00 PM April 19, 1970[15]

Malacañang

Have just finished a conference with SND [Secretary of National Defense], J-2 [Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence], 1st PC Zone Commander and his S-2 Col. Tomas Diaz, on an assessment.

All the present books on counter-subversion and counter insurgency do not deal with our peculiar problem that is distinguished by a highly sophisticated use by the subversives of media, the schools, the church labor, peasants and even industrialists in a massive scale. This is not just the 1950 struggle, it is more insidious and perhaps more pervasive. The same objective, the same motivation but more finesse, more articulate eloquence, more propaganda, more intellectuals, more open activism in front organizations—but less arms.

This may be Maoist but it is not based on the Maoist doctrine of the rural areas being the base on the peasants and not the proletariat as the men of the revolution.

So the counter-action must equally be more sophisticated.

Traditionally the peasants while shown the strength of the Armed Forces, must be given an alternative to communism. In 1950 this was the Edcor [Economic Development Corps] and the resettlement projects and some government reforms. Today it is the Magalang Agricultural Community Development Project, Tulungan and the Integrated Social Welfare Program, economic development, CIR [Court of Industrial Relations] and CAR [Court of Agrarian Relations] renovations, mobile courts and land reform.

MALACAÑANG

1:20 AM April 19, 1970

Just came from the dinner of [Geronimo] Ronnie and Linda Velasco at their home in Dasmariñas. Sang the old songs, Red Sails in the Sunset, Balalaika, Goodnight, Sweetheart, etc.

[Alejandro] Alex Melchor [Jr.] and his parlour games. The rope trick and the blanket.

I have ordered Makati as the pilot area for the registration of firearms and the organization of weekend warriors.

De Leon, our asset on the Samar Training Camp who reported the death of three of his companions, two from Central Luzon, on the way to the training camp (drowned in the rapids) was subjected by [Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.], Nic Tumulak and security group to questioning and lie detector test. Osmeña may have finally cleared but he is being sent to Sulu. He excused himself as still being too sick. I believe they intend to liquidate him. We should now submerge him.

We must check the Iloilo situation. We will put up seven intelligence groups as permanent operating units with lateral and vertical channels of communication. Thus one unit would be covering the two islands of Negros and Panay. This is the possible hotbed of dissidence in the South.

MALACAÑANG

12:30 AM April 20,[16] 1970[17]

Malacañang

Imee won the topmost honors in school (1st year, Assumption Convent). In all her subjects. I wish she had been a boy. I went there at ten o’clock AM to pin the medal on her. She was quite nervous about it. And her teachers were proud of her. An Ilocana teacher commented “Ti paria hangan nga agbunga ti tarong.” [an apple tree will not bear orange fruit].[18]

Met with Hanz Menzi on his pulp project, his logging concession in Kalimantan pending with Pres. Suharto of Indonesia, his plantations in Talacag, Bukidnon, Mati, Davao Oriental and Basilan, as well as the publications (Bulletin where he holds 57% of the stock, Emilio Yap 30%, Enrique Zobel a small share and some Americans; Liwayway where he and Emilio Yap are split 50-50). I suggested he now appoint a managing company.

Then Balao and Tante Rubio on their accounts on their enterprises. Balao has the Sierra Madre Logging in Cagayan—right now 20,000 hectares although he has a claim of 50,000 on the old area of Aguil and ______.

Then a conference at 3:00 PM.

Golf at 6:00 to 7:30.

The Lady of Fatima with Father Moore at 8:00 PM.

Dinner with [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto whose 53rd birthday was the 18th. He cut his foot on a Coke bottle at his Macao plantation so he cannot play golf.

Cesar Zalamea on the BOI [Board of Investments] and other appointments.

Talked to Bobby about his building up Channel 9 into color and nation-wide, and KBS [Kanlaon Broadcasting System] radio as well as putting up a newspaper and developing copper claims.

MALACAÑANG

11:00 AM April 21, 1970[19]

Malacañang Palace

9:00 AM—Inaugurated the cold-cloud seeding rain production and typhoon moderation project. Philsugin [Philippine Sugar Institute] donated three high-flying Cessnas (they can fly higher than 32,000 feet) for the project.

11:00 AM—Com. Aquino on the Manila Bay Road with a causeway of about 500 meters wide. Also ordered the Manila North Diversion Road Extension and South Superhighway without cost to the government and cost to be recovered by tolls.

11:15 AM—Coordinated the BTTI [Board of Travel and Tourist Industry] and PTTA [Philippine Tourist and Travel Association] boards. Placed funds (P6.5 million) at the disposal of the BTTI only. Quarrels are stymying our tourist promotion plans.

2:15 AM—Met the Mangyan delegation from Mindoro Oriental with Gov. Umali and Cong. [Jose] Leido [Jr.]. They want reservation for their tribes which I ordered to be segregated by the Bureau of Forestry and the Bureau of Lands. They came in G-string and colorful tribal dress into the reception hall of the palace. Beneath the huge chandeliers they looked incongruous and unbelievable.

Imelda is all pain from her exercising. Jazz from 4 to 5. Then exercise up to seven. Sauna bath of 15 minutes. Half an hour massage. All the Blue Ladies are worried about their figures. They are all putting on weight.

The export tax bill is now in the period of amendments in the senate. But there are many provisions like total sterilization of the proceeds, applicability immediate on the four major exports and the rest only after thirty days. These must be removed in the conference committee.

We have located the air strip of Arthur Beech who is actually the operations officer of the San Jose Timber Corp. of Louis Sheff and his wife at the source of the Catibog River Northern Samar. The training ground set up by [Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.] is close to there. And three men with de Leon, our asset perished in one of the falls of the river, so he is under suspicion. We will now look into the operations of Louis Sheff who has sold his house to Vic Fernandez the partner of [Ernesto] Maceda in their reparations influence peddling. They made money on the items procured by PACD [Presidential Assistant on Community Development] of which Maceda was the head. They have collected already $400,000.00.

But Louis Sheff has plenty of money and no apparent source. He is probably engaged in smuggling.

MALACAÑANG

12:55 AM April 22, 1970[20]

Malacañang

Met with the Congressmen all morning. Wednesday is Congressmen’s day.

Worked out with Cesar Virata and Greg[orio] Licaros, the final shape of the export tax bill in conference with Sen. W[enceslao] Lagumbay, chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means who is suspected of receiving lobby money for the special treatment given to certain commodities; Congs. [Natalio] Castillo and [James] Chiongbian as well as [Marcelino] Lening Veloso the House Majority Floor Leader.

Spent the afternoon on the Army problems and the plans for counter-subversion.

Located the two islands in Indonesia where Larry Truckman, [Sergio] Osmeña’s [Jr.] partner, is logging under a concession granted by Pres. Suharto.

Received the surrender this morning of Commander Sandoval, the top HMB [Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan] of Nueva Ecija. He is willing to surrender his men.

A certain Dr. Nicdao is negotiating the surrender of Dante [Bernabe Buscayno] but Dante is afraid of [Benigno] Ninoy Aquino [Jr.] (whatever that means).

MALACAÑANG

1:15 AM April 23, 1970[21]

Malacañang

Bongbong’s graduation from seventh grade. And I was the commencement speaker. The title—“The student leaders of the 70’s.”

Hanz Menzi tells me that Manila Times and the other newspapers are conducting a survey on the grievances and revolution. But Chino [Joaquin] Roces prepared the questions and are loaded against the administration as usual.

So we are conducting a survey of our own.

MALACAÑANG