Saturday
“Our mission is to dismantle the communist apparatus in our country. If the communists are allowed to continue their activities, there will be a bloody civil war eventually. We must prevent this and save life.”
“We must save our Republic.”
This was agreed upon in my library at Malacañang Palace in the conference yesterday of the generals and Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile. Present were the Chief of Staff, Gen. [Manuel] Yan, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Gen. [Romeo] Espino, the Chief of the Army, Gen. [Rafael] Ileto, the Chief of the Constabulary, Gen. [Eduardo] Garcia, the Chief of the Air Force, Gen. [Jesus] Singson, the Flag Officer in Command of the Navy, Commodore [Dioscoro] Papa, the Metrocom Chief, Gen. [Mariano] Ordoñez, the Chief of Supply Services, Gen. [Antonio] Tamayo, the First PC Zone Commander, Gen. [Felizardo] Tanabe, the Second PC Zone Commander, Gen. [Zosimo] Paredes, the Tabac Division Commander, Gen. [Rafael] Zagala and Pasig Task Force Commander, Gen. [Fabian] Ver.
I informed them that it was my decision to use my extraordinary powers if there should be further violence. I asked them if there was any objection. No one objected. I asked if everyone agreed to the contingency plan.
Gen. Tanabe asked how they would handle any prisoners since if the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended, the period of detention would still be limited to six or eight hours if no criminal charges are filed.
I then notified them that to simplify matters I would proclaim martial law.
This was received with apparent relief.
“However, there must be no unnecessary bloodshed, no abuses and no personal vengeance. We must control our officers and men,” I farther clarified.
“Unlike that of East Pakistan,” said Gen. Ileto, with a slight smile.
So with the support of the generals, we go full steam ahead in our contingency plans.
I explained to them that the target date of the communists was July this year; that they would start with massive sabotage and burning of public buildings in Manila; that we must be prepared earlier than July as the communists were accelerating the creation of a revolutionary situation.
“There must be no hesitation in the implementation of the contingency plans. This would be fatal. So if there are any doubts now, you must come out with it,” I explained. Nobody said anything.
They reported that the morale of the men was high.
I then reminded them of the facts of the Indonesian experience against the communists as narrated to me by Gen. [Abdul Haris] Nasution, “It took only a thousand or more men under them—Gen. Suharto to save Indonesia from the communists.”
And they seemed resolute and determined. “We have been given this golden opportunity to save our country once again. Let us not lose it. If we cannot once again. Let us not lose it. If we cannot eradicate the communist apparatus, we shall have failed as leaders. I shall have failed as a President no matter what else I have done. We could follow the easy way out. We could close our eyes to the danger and let our successors attend to it. But it may be too late then. Then we would have lost everything. We would lose our lives, our fortune, our freedom and our Republic,” I ended the conference in this solemn note.
“I consider this conference as unanimous in the plan,” I concluded.
Then we reviewed the preparedness or the various services and units.
The Tabak Divisions was spending about P1.5 million for the improvement of communications. Transportation was only 42% operational.
PC [Philippine Constabulary] was deficient in communications from Bu. Hq. to Co. Hq. Transport was only 40% effective.
1st and 2nd PC Zones were in the same situation.
Metrocom [Metropolitan Command], the principal active agent in the Metropolitan area was up to par.
I ordered funds to be released to fill up deficiencies. Reparations should also be tapped. And a plan has to be prepared for the commandeering of the private sector facilities for transport and communications.
The opening ceremonies of the Green Revolution was a smashing success. There were double the people expected—20,000 instead of 10,000. Imelda delivered a beautiful speech, touching and well delivered.
“This is a revolution against a cruel tyranny. It is the tyranny of want, hunger and disease.
“It is a rebellion against our environment. It is not aimed at men.
“And more than this, it is a revolution against habits, custom, tradition and indolence, lethargy, as well as resignation.
“This is the harder revolution. For there is no one harder to conquer than one’s self.
“And when one has conquered one’s self, one can conquer anything,” I said in my speech.
“So be proud that the women start this revolution for in it she lives true to her mystic role as the life-source of the universe.
“And this maybe the secret source-spring of the unity that must bind our people into one nation,” I concluded.
Sen. [Mamintal] Tamano says it is useless supporting [Gil] Puyat for the Senate Presidency as he is viciously critical of me and the First Lady even and specially in private conversation.
“It is best to fight an enemy who is openly such and harder to fight one who claims he is an ally but acts like an enemy,” he insisted.
So he recommended that the Senate President ______.