Friday
We have postponed the proclamations in Laoag and Tuguegarao because of a typhoon that is hitting Northern Luzon.
And we may not be able to go back to Manila tomorrow as the weather is deteriorating fast.
The intermediaries to Mayor Bangon Akatur of Buldon arrived at about 5:30 PM from Cotabato. ·
They had been joined in Parang by Com. Raul Beloso and were brought to Davao by Gens. [Domingo] Tutaan and [Eduardo] Garcia.
Mayor Bangon Akatur promised to come to see me for a peace settlement by Tuesday, the 17th. I hope to be in Manila then. So they would have to be ferried by plane.
He confirmed my suspicion that there were Ilaga bands still burning homes and shooting down Muslims.
He did not like the sound of surrender as he claims he is not a criminal. And he felt aggrieved that the Constabulary were fighting them when the Moslems were on the receiving end of bullets from the “Ilagas” who were accompanied by PC [Philippine Constabulary] men.
He mentioned some PC men whom I ordered arrested and prosecuted.
But I ordered food and medical supplies with civilian doctors or medical teams and food to be first brought to Buldon from Parang as apparently there are many evacuees in the town suffering from hunger und illness.
One interesting sidelight of the apparently successful negotiations is the fact that the daughter-in-law of Mayor Akatur is an Ilocana teacher who tried to catch up with me in Cotabato City but arrived a few minutes late. So she guided my intermediaries to Buldon. Without her I am certain the intermediaries would not have been able to contact Mayor Akatur.
I am glad the Ilocanos are a pioneering adventurous race that reach such corners of the Philippines like Buldon!
Notes on Democracy is the Revolution
Include an explanation for the rejection of the communist answer of “abolition of private property.”
Present instances of Socialist or Communist countries reverting to the system of rewards for private initiative even within the framework of government or state enterprise and ownership of property.
Russia
Yugoslavia
The Scandinavian Countries
England
In the Philippine setting, violence in demonstrations and riots on the streets may attract attention and even sympathy if held to one or two instances. Beyond that, because of the experience of the family heads in the cruel and severe fighting of the last World War which saw the Philippines suffer some one million killed and the subsequent communist rebellion which saw a long state of instability after 1946, such violence is treated as an irritating inconvenience by the general public.
12:30 PM August 14, 1971[1]
Saturday
Typhoon Uring, hitting Isabela last night and leaving Vigan this morning, has cancelled all the proclamations and rallies in the north.
But the weather was good from Davao to Manila which we negotiated in the Fokker in 2 hours and twenty minutes.
Laoag and Tuguegarao have become calm and sunny. So we fly tomorrow for these two places one in the morning and the other in the evening.
In the Cotabato situation, Sens. [Mamintal] Tamano and [Leonardo] Perez with Cong. [Constantino] Navarro have gone to Parang and sought to use the same intermediaries to bring Mayor Bangon Aratuc of Buldon to me. But they have brought the media and politicians with them. I am worried they may undermine everything that we have done. I have asked them to desist from intervention.
Spent the time working on papers and guiding the media and propaganda campaign.
My impression coming out of the conversation of Com. Raul Beloso with Mayor Bangon Aratuc of Buldon is that there is a MIM or Moslem Independent Movement but that it fed on the “Ilaga” vicious attacks on Moslem villages, desecration of mosques and killing of Moslem civilians (cutting off their ears) which were in turn caused by the Moslem protection racket of collecting from Christian settlers part of harvest and cattle rustling.
But the previous unorganized depredations on both sides became united into systematic attacks-in-band by the organization of the “Ilagas” in which Mayor Doruelo of Pigkawayan and retired Capt. Tronco are involved—the first as arms supplier and general support men and the second as the brains; then of the MIM by both Ex-Gov. Udtog Matalan and Cong. Salipada Pendatun.
Mayor Aratuc is, I believe, preparing to tell me that these last two leaders, with whom he is disenchanted as they have not been able to help him, are partly to blame for the lawlessness going on in Cotabato.
Incidentally Mayor Aratuc had unintentionally revealed that the MIM had sent forces to Buldon but that “they had dispersed.”
However, apparently the mayor feels that the PC [Philippine Constabulary] had sided with the Ilagas. My estimate was that these alleged “PC” are Ilagas using PC uniform.
1:40 AM August 16, 1971[2]
Monday
Came back from Tuguegarao at 10:00 AM on the new King Air of Central Bank which can go 300 miles an hour at 18,000 ft. taking Tuguegarao-Manila in 55 minutes.
Met Tomatie [Tumatic] Aratuc and his wife Nelly Tagadi Aratuc and we agreed that he would bring back his father. I sent food and medicines as well as a SSB [single-sideband] for radio communication to be set up inside the town of Buldon. He was a former Moslem scholar in Notre Dame. And I believe he will help settle the problem.
Pres. [Richard] Nixon allowed the dollar to float today. By and large this should favor us as we have many dollar liabilities in the public and private sector. Prices may go up a little in the U.S. but this may not affect us too much.
Dinner by the [Bahay] Pangarap Golfers— [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto, [Angel] Angie Limjoco [Jr.], Ricky Cu-Unjieng, Pepe Oledan and Belek Madrigal and their wives.
The sukiyaki was good!
I am more and more convinced that there are parties which are engaged in stimulating a Holy War in the Moslem areas. The burning of mosques and the wanton and vicious slaying of Moslems as well as cutting off their ears are deliberate steps to inflame the Moslems against the government and the Christians.
These parties may be the young lawyers close to Ex-Gov. Udtug Matalam, or even Cong. Salapida Pendatun himself who finds it politically profitable to have the Moslem areas in a state of turmoil. Or Ex-Senator Domocao Alonto or Ex-Cong. Raschid Lucman.
I understand from Cong. [Mohammad] Ali Dimaporo that there were messages to Lanao, Zamboanga, Sulu and other Moslem areas to the effect that the revolution against the government was on. So he had to go around to give the lie to these strange speculations.
Ninoy [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] is, as usual, heard to have bragged that if four battalions of the Armed Forces should be moved from Luzon to Mindanao to meet the threat of the Moslem Independence Movement, then the 10 HMB [Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan] or NPA [New People’s Army] Commanders and their 100 men who are now in Manila would mount an attack on the city.
This could be 90% false and all bark as is usual with Ninoy Aquino.
But that the subversives are hiding out in Manila and suburbs is true.
And we must make Mindanao, whatever be the military situation there be self-sufficient and capable of attending to its requirements without need for any reserves from the Visayas or Mindanao.
12:10 PM August 17, 1971[3]
Tuesday
The [Richard] Nixon Devaluation announcement has increased prices of shares of stock specially of those listed in the American stock exchange.
And there is some confusion in the export area.
We are watching developments.
Speaker and Mrs. Carl Albert are our guests at the palace. They arrived at 4:00 at the MIA [Manila International Airport]. Had dinner with them at 8:00 PM.
Had to excuse myself to talk by SSB [single-sideband] to Mayor Bangon Aratuc of Buldon through the radio unit I sent with a communications team of 3.
He asked me to send back Sens. [Mamintal] Tamano, [Leonardo] Perez, Cong. [Constantino] Navarro and [Mohammad] Ali Dimaporo, who with my emissaries, Mayor [Sansalona] Biruar of Parang, Bungusa, Tumawis, and Mayor [Michael] Sinsuat would bring him to Manila.
Tomorrow our helicopters bring medicine and food to Buldon, landing in front of the municipal building where the flag flies.
10:20 PM August 18, 1971[4]
Wednesday
Spent the day on the cruise for Speaker [Carl] Albert and 22 other congressmen and their ladies to Corregidor and Dambana ng Kagitingan.
At Corregidor we saw the entire one hour movie “The Flame and the Sea.” Although it did not include much of Bataan fighting it was impressive and moving. “That is the movie I would like to show my entire district,” said Speaker Albert.
We docked at 4:30 PM. Demonstrators (numbering about 1,500) were in front of Malacañang denouncing the alleged killings of Muslims and U.S. imperialism.
And at Pangarap we met Mayor Bangon Aratuc of Buldon, Cotabato with my emissaries. Sen. [Mamintal] Tamano, Cong. [Constantino] Navarro and [Mohammad] Ali Dimaporo as well as the mayor’s son Tumatic Aratuc, Mayor [Sansalona] Biruar of Parang, Ex-Mayor, Vice Mayor Tomawis and his brother Bungusa.
We agreed there would be a ceremony of surrender of firearms but the government would authorize the mayor to maintain peace and order and register the firearms.
All persons guilty of violating the law would be punished whether Muslim or Christian.
The Constabulary units would be led by Muslim and Christian officers.
Buldon would be a pilot project of development by the national government. This means payment of damage of properties owned by innocent civilians as we did in the Central Luzon fighting against the HMB’s [Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan], repair of roads and bridges.
The troops would be withdrawn after the ceremony to which I probably will send Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile as my representative. And even before that the residents will be allowed to harvest their crop.
Saw a beautiful presentation of the development of Philippine drama after some Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Philippine songs by children—at the Cultural Center with the congressmen; then the inauguration of the Munting Dulaan at the Center and reception.
Magnificent show! Everybody was congratulating Imelda—and me as if I had anything to do with it.
12:10 PM August 20, 1971[5]
Friday
I missed August 19th as we finished the dinner for Speaker and Mrs. Carl Albert at about 12:30 [A]M and I went to bed at about 1:30 AM. We had to wake up at 5:30 AM to bid them goodbye.
They visited Fort Santiago, had lunch at the Nayon[g Pilipino] where they participated in the Ati-atihan—face paint and all.
Played golf with four Congressmen—J. William Stanton, _____ at [Bahay] Pangarap and licked them.
Then the dinner at Maharlika [Hall] where Imelda showed the fashions since pre-Spanish like Laterna Magica.
In the toast I spoke of the new, dynamic and revolutionary idea as bold as 1776 which meant the death of the Dutch, French and British empires—that a strong and great country can come to a small and weak nation like the Philippines, educate the people to the ways of democracy, assist it then set the date for independence and keep that promise.
Speaker Albert responded and spoke of the courage of the Filipino in resisting the Japanese and the guerillas saving the lives of thousands and ten of thousands of American lives even during the liberation.
I decorated Speaker Albert with the Ancient Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu last night before the dinner.
Today I spent attending to political conflicts and releases of funds—up to 4:30 PM when I had lunch.
Then rested and played golf at 6:00 PM after the rain.
Attended to the funding of the campaign and the schedules. While Imelda talked to some congressmen on our 8-0 plan for the senators, I talked to Mayor Bangon Aratuc and his son Tomatik on the MIM [Mindanao Independence Movement] and Cotabato polities.
I am convinced he is not connected with the MIM and that he has been sincere and honest with us.
He is disenchanted with [Salipada] Pendatun and Gov. [Simeon] Datumanong.
He agrees with me that they are using the disorders in Cotabato to advance their political ambitions.
I also met Atty. Max Llorente who was ambushed in Tarlac and still limps. He is ready to work against [Benigno] Ninoy Aquino [Jr.].
I actually write this August 21, 1971[6]
at 4:30PM August 22 as Saturday
I was too occupied last
night going to bed at 5:00 AM today
I have declared by proclamation No. 889 a suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
This after the police, the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation], the CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] and others agree that the bombing of the LP [Liberal Party] rally at Plaza Miranda at about 9:00 PM and which resulted in 9 dead, 68 wounded with Sens. [Jovito] Salonga and Sergio Osmeña Jr. fighting for their lives in surgery, was caused or done by subversives.
I attach copy of the proclamation and the newspapers of today (the 22nd) reporting the tragedy.
It was necessary to convince the Secretary of Justice with the explanation that such a grave and heinous crime must be met with decisive action on the part of government. Otherwise our democracy is doomed.
Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile was for outright declaration of martial law.
Among those whom I called to the conference before I signed the proclamation were: PC [Philippine Constabulary] Chief Gen. [Eduardo] Garcia, Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] Chief Gen. [Mariano] Ordoñez, Acting Chief of Staff Gen. [Romeo] Espino, CIS Chief Col. [Prospero] Olivas, Internal Security Chief Gen. [Fidel] Ramos and PSU [Presidential Security Unit] and PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion] Chief, Gen. [Fabian] Ver.
Gen. Ramos drew up the list of persons to be arrested drawn from the original contingency plan. The traditionalists among the communist leaders were expurgated leaving about 27 Maoists. Although later on five were added including Dante Simbulan, Sixto Carlos Jr., ______.
We finished at about 4:30 PM.
Sen. [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] who was absent from the platform during the bombing (suspiciously so) is the prime suspect as the mastermind or at the least agreed to allow the NPA [New People’s Army] to do the bombing.
He claims that he was warned by a telephone caller at 6:00 PM that it would be his last speech. But when he talked to Sen. [Eva Estrada] Kalaw after the tragedy he claimed that when he was on the way to the rally, his party was diverted to the Jai Alai because something was going to happen in the rally and he would have to wait it out.
Just in case the arrests of the Maoists should invite violent action, I am preparing an order proclaiming martial law.
For we cannot now compromise on this case. It must be solved. And neither should we temporize even with Ninoy Aquino. This man is most probably the mastermind of the whole dastardly plot. And in all probability his side kick, a Commander Felman, (true name—Bert Santos) executed the plan. They may not have planned to kill or injure so many people. But merely to cause a scare. Either Commander Felman decided to kill the rivals of Ninoy within the Liberal Party or he goofed. But the result was tragic.
Ninoy Aquino is the most ruthless man in the Philippines today.
1:00 AM August 22, 1971[7]
[1] Official Gazette for August 14, 1971: I mmediately upon arriving at Malacañang at about 10:30 a.m. from his three-day trip to the South, the President focused on urgent state business, including important state papers. He did not receive callers to be able to concentrate on desk work preparatory to another trip to the North, for proclamation rallies of the senatorial bets of the Nacionalista Party.
[2] Official Gazette for August 16, 1971: P resident Marcos had two major conferences, one in the afternoon with Tumatic Aratuc, son of Buldon Mayor Bangon Aratuc, and the other in the evening with members of his Fiscal Policy Committee. It was quite a busy day for the President, following his return to Manila in the morning from the North where he presented the NP senatorial candidates in huge rallies in Laoag City and Tuguegarao, Cagayan. Before meeting with Aratuc’s son, who was sent by the Buldon mayor to relay his message to him, the President worked on official papers in his private study. Tumatic Aratuc, who was accompanied by his wife Nelly, Senators Mamintal Tamano and Leonardo Perez, Rep. Constantino Navarro and Judge Lau Tan of Buldon, transmitted to the President a complaint from Mayor Aratuc that nine houses belonging to Muslims were burned in a barrio of Buldon by “men in uniform.” He also informed the President that no food or medicine have arrived in Buldon despite the President’s orders for immediate delivery of same. In the course of his meeting with Tumatic, the President communicated directly by telephone with Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan, Fourth PC Zone commander. He directed Gen. Tutaan to pull out the 543rd PC company and all other Ilongo elements from the Buldon area, the presence of which was deemed the main irritant to the Muslims. The President also ordered Gen. Tutaan to conduct a full-dress investigation of the burning of the nine Muslim houses, and to-maintain active patrolling in the area, with special attention to armed men who may attempt to destroy or sabotage the peaceful settlement of the factional differences in the province. The President likewise ordered Gen. Tutaan to expedite the delivery of food and medicine and the deployment of civilian doctors aid social workers to Buldon. In another directive, the President ordered Brig. Gen. Fabian Ver, chief of the Presidential Security Unit, to furnish Mayor Aratuc with a single sideband radio set and two operators to enable the mayor to communicate with Malacañang any time. At the end of the conference, the President requested Tumatic and his wife to return to Buldon immediately so that they could help facilitate the delivery to and distribution of food and medicine among the evacuees, and to convey his desire to confer with Mayor Aratuc in Malacañang on the measures which should be taken to maintain peace and order in the area. The President met with the members of the Fiscal Policy Committee in the evening to assess the effects of U.S. President Nixon’s decision to suspend the gold conversion of the dollar. The Council agreed that the “floating” of the dollar would have no adverse effect on the Philippine economy. On the other hand, it was agreed that since the government had more liabilities than deposits in dollars in the U.S., the new policy might favor the Philippine Government. The same situation, it was agreed, would obtain for the private sector. Present at the meeting were Central Bank Governor Gregorio Liqaros, Finance Secretary Cesar Virata, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melehor, NEC Chairman Gerardo Sicat, DBP Chairman Leonides Virata, SSS Administrator Gilberto Teodoro, Board of Investments Chairman Vicente Paterno, GSIS General Manager Roman Cruz, Jr., Veterans Bank President Esteban Cabanos, and Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad.
[3] Official Gazette for August 17, 1971: P resident Marcos was back to his regular schedule after his trip to the provinces, and as usual he received visitors in between stints at his desk. Among those who called in the morning were Minister William Thorpe of New Zealand, who completed a 3-year tour of duty in this country. He called to say goodbye, prior to returning home for reassignment as high commissioner of Samoa. Later in the morning, the President was regaled by the call of young singing ambassadors from Japan, Taipei and South Korea, composed of children’s choirs. The First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, joined the President to listen to the youngsters sing a few songs. Accompanying the children was Rev. Walter C Libre, who presented the three groups to the President on behalf of Mayor Antonio J. Villegas of Manila. A particular hit was the rendition by the Taipei choir of “Dahil Sa Iyo.” A large delegation from Mindanao was received by the President soon after. The Muslim group sought assurance that marriage rituals of non-Christians would continue to be in force despite the expiration of the law which authorized these rites. The President, to reassure them, re-enacted the signing of R.A. 6268, which restored the exemption retroactively to June 19, 1969, when the original law expired. In the afternoon the President devoted most of his time to his desk work and other state matters. Early in the evening, the President and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, received Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and Mrs. Carl Albert. Speaker Albert arrived in Manila in the afternoon at the head of a 23-man congressional delegation conducting an Asian tour. The Alberts were accompanied to Malacañang by Speaker and Mrs. Cornel io T. Villareal, Rep. Jose D. Aspiras of La Union, and Ambassador and Mrs. Henry Byroade. The U. S. congressional delegation arrived from Taipei via Hongkong at 4:40 p.m. and were met at the Manila International Airport by members of Congress led by Speaker Villareal, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. and Ambassador Henry Byroade. Among the papers signed by the President in the course of the day was a proclamation declaring August 19, a special public holiday in Quezon province, Lucena City and Quezon City. The day marks the birth anniversary of the late President Manuel L. Quezon.
[4] Official Gazette for August 18, 1971: P resident Marcos and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, accompanied the visiting 23-man congressional delegation of the United States, led by Speaker Carl Albert, in a tour of historic Corregidor and Bataan. The First Couple and the visiting American solons and their ladies boarded the RPS Ang Pangulo at 7:30 a.m. at Pier 15 and sailed for Corregidor first, arriving on the “Rock” some two hours later. Boarding the buses, the President and the First Lady guided the American ‘visitors in a tour of historic sites, among them the battery or big gun emplacements and the Malinta tunnel. Also shown them was the Pacific War Memorial. During their three-hour stay on the erstwhile fortress, the visitors were shown the documentary film entitled “The Flame and the Sea,” depicting the war in the Pacific. They reboarded the RPS Ang Pangulo at 12:30 p.m. for lunch while the ship sailed for Mariveles, Bataan where they boarded PAF helicopters for the “Dambana ng Kagitingan” on Mt. Samat. After touring the national shrine, the First Couple and the American visitors helicoptered back to Mariveles where thev reboarded the RPS Ang Pangulo for the trip back to Manila. With the First Couple in showing the American visitors around in Corregidor and Bataan were Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Rep. Macacuna Dimaporo and Senators Ambrosio Padilla and Emmanuel Pelaez. Shortly after his return from Bataan, the President met with Mayor Bangon Aratuc of Buldon, Cotabato and hammered out a six-point formula to restore peace and order in Buldon. The President met the Bul-don mayor for 30 minutes at the Pangarap. The peace formula agreed upon between the President and Mayor Aratuc includes: 1. The rehabilitation of the town of Buldon, and its conversion into a pilot project. 2. The peaceful surrender and registration of all firearms followed by the pull-out of all PC troops from the area. 3. The possible transfer of Christian settlers from the EDCOR settlement in Buldon to Alamada, and the transfer of Muslims from Alamada to Buldon. 4. The reorganization of the army and PC units with the total elimination of Ilongos from them. 5. The prosecution and punishment of all guilty parties in accordance with law, after an impartial investigation is conducted by investigators not from the Cotabato PC command. 6. The immediate clearing of the roads in order to allow the harvest of standing rice crops in Buldon. Upon request of Mayor Aratuc, and the recommendation of Sen. Mamintal Tamano and Reps. Ali Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte and Constantino Navarro of Surigao del Norte, the President promised to order the immediate rehabilitation of Buldon with the construction of roads and bridges, and the setting up of a dispensary. It was also agreed that two days after the return of the mayor to Buldon, all firearms will be surrendered and registered in the poblacion, after which the mayor would assume full responsibility for the peace and order in the town and the PC would be pulled out
[5] Official Gazette for A ugust 20, 1971: President Marcos received the credentials of a new ambassador, to the Philippines, which along with his signing of House Bill No. 3520 (S. N. 555) authorizing the sweeping rehabilitation of the government railway firm were the only deviations from his usual routine of callers and desk work. The President received the letters of credence of the new Greek ambassador, at formal ceremonies held in Malacañang. Attending the rites were Cabinet members headed by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo. In the presence of a large group of Philippine National Railways officials, the President signed the bill authorizing the complete rehabilitation of the troubled railway. Present at the signing were a large delegation from the PNR headed by General Manager Nicanor Jimenez; Salvador Villa, chairman of the board; and Macario Roque, chairman of the Federation of PNR labor unions; Senators Dominador Aytona and Magnolia W. Antonio, Reps. Roberto Sabido, Carlos Imperial and Amando Cope of Albay; Felix Fuentabella of Camarines Sur, Fernando Pajarillo of Camarines Norte, Rafael Aquino of Sorsogon, Emilio Espinosa of Masbate, Andres Cosalan of Benguet, and Joaquin Ortega and Jose D. Aspiras of La Union. The President also proclaimed several provincial candidates, including those for governor, mayor, mostly from the Bicol Region. Leading the NP candidates was Pepita Baltazar-Aquino, wife of the highways commissioner, and the NP official bet for governor of Albay. The rest of the President’s day was divided between callers, mainly delegations from the provinces who came to consult him on local, problems, and state matters requiring his attention. He worked later in the afternoon steadily at his desk. He issued two proclamations, one declaring August 23, the “Cry of Pugad Lawin Day” in the cities of Caloocan and Quezon, and the other declaring August 30, a special public holiday in Mandaue City. August 23, marks the 75th anniversary of the first Filipino uprising against Spain which led to the Philippine Revolution, while August 30 is the anniversary of the founding of the city of Mandaue.
[6] Official Gazett e for August 21, 1971: Following receipt and confirmation of reports on the bombing of the Liberal Party rally in the evening at Plaza Miranda, President Marcos, among others, directed the National Bureau of Investigation, the Metrocom and the Armed Forces to use their special demolition squads and investigate the nature and sources of the explosives used in the bombing. He likewise summoned acting Mayor Felicisimo Cabigao of Manila to make a report on the incident. In a statement he issued, the President said: “ We condemn the bombing of the Liberal Party rally at Plaza Miranda tonight as an unmitigated crime against the entire Filipino nation and people. It is a crime against every Filipino who believes in democracy as a way of life and who believes that democracy draws its vitality and strength from the spirit of peaceful political competition. This is certainly a day of shame for the Filipino people. The government will spare no effort and will use all its resources in going after those responsible for this barbaric act and in seeking justice for those who suffered injuries and those who lost their lives. I appeal to every person who has any information on this heinous crime or who has any clue to the identity of the persons guilty to cooperate with the government in tracking them down. I have directed the NBI, the Metrocom and the Armed Forces to use their special demolition squads and investigate the nature and sources of the explosives used in the bombing. I have also summoned the acting mayor of Manila to make a report on the incident. This to me is a national tragedy which we must bear with sorrow and compassion for the victims. Mrs. Marcos joins me in expressing our deepest condolence to the victims. ” Earlier in the morning, the President had a three-hour conference with both Muslim and Christian leaders of Cotabato on the peace and order condition in that province. In accordance with the leaders’ recommendations, the President ordered a shift from the use of the military to civilian authority in the peace and order campaign in Mindanao, particularly in Cotabato. The governor, the congressman, the mayors and the barrio captains were reactivated to perform their duties and may call upon the military for support only when necessary. Present at the conference were Sen. Leonardo Perez, Reps. Salipada Pendatun of North Cotabato and Constantino Navarro of Surigao del Norte, former Rep. Blah Sinsuat, Mayor Michael Sinsuat of Upi, Maj. Gen. Romeo G. Espino, AFP vice chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Eduardo M. Garcia, PC chief; Brig. Gen. Fidel Ramos, Deputy Chief of Staff for Home Defense Activities; and Col. Valentin S. Mayuga of intelligence, AFP; Lt. Col. Carlos Cajelo, former PC provincial commander and Delegate Roseller T. Lim of the Constitutional Convention. The President devoted the whole afternoon to desk work, during which he submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation the nomination of Conrado Sanchez, Jr. as member of the Board of Investments. At the time of his designation by the President to the BOI, Sanchez was vice president of Fil-Hispano Ceramics and Monja Estate, Inc.
[7] Official Gazette for A ugust 22, 1971: President Marcos spent most of his time working on official papers in his private study, and attending to other urgent state business. Among other actions, the President ordered a moratorium on the campaign of the Nacionalista Party senatorial ticket following the Plaza Miranda bomb attack, until the two political parties have met and decided “what should be done under the circumstances.” The President said “democracy as a way of life, rather than the Liberal Party candidates, was the object of the bomb attack at Plaza Miranda, and it is now time for the two parties to meet and decide how this naked attack shall be met.”