Sunday
As usual the columns of Max [Maximo] Soliven and [Mariano] Querol in Manila Times are raving mad about my book and statements.
And Sen. [Jose] Diokno heads a supposed massive rally of Concerned Citizens tomorrow at Plaza Miranda.
Sen. [Gerardo] Roxas asks me formally to offer the P500,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the killers in the Plaza Miranda rally.
Sen. [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] says he is willing to sit down with me so that we can talk of solutions to the national problems!
“Speaking of the devil…” He certainly is generous???
He is one of the causes of a grave national problem—communism. After he has armed and funded them, he solicitously comes to me and offers to work out a solution.
All the more reason why I should be firm and resolved.
For our enemies are stronger than we estimated. And as usual the media does not even try to be fair.
I met the generals today. As usual Gen. [Eduardo] Garcia is issuing too many press releases. The cancellation by me of the loyalty day parade has been interpreted to mean so many things other than the wish for a simple birthday celebration.
Imelda is feeling depressed and frustrated. She is in a crying jog. And I am not much help.
This shatters lowers my morale.
The Manila Times columns of Soliven and Querol dripping with sarcasm prove my point about the media. They not only cannot take criticism, meaning they cannot be objective about their faults. They will not treat the book objectively but subjectively.
1:00 AM September 13, 1971[1]
Monday
The public debate on the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus still goes on.
And the demand for my book on Revolution increases.
Today too, Sen. [Jose] Diokno headed a supposed aggrupation of Concerned Citizens against the Suspension in a Plaza Miranda rally which was rained out. I attach the Kabataan Makabayan handout in Envelope IX-B.
I have directed a paper back version of “Today’s Revolution: Democracy’’ to be printed. And I intend to donate it (the books copyright) to the Marcos Foundation with the condition that the income shall be used for research and scholarships.
The papers on the Plaza Miranda, crime as well as Commander Melody’s [Benjamin Bie Jr.] and Bucoy’s sworn statement on the Communist Party and NPA [New People’s Army] plans for subversion, urban guerilla war and terrorism are also in Envelope No. IX-B.
In the same envelope is Imee’s interview in the Asia-Philippines Leader. She is sharp and witty, talented and polished.
“The more sensitive and imaginative a man, the greater his vision and hope, the more fiercely will he be attacked by doubts and the nightmare of meaninglessness and chaos. At times, an unbearable insecurity threatens the order and the rhythm of his life, his very sanity. To go on living at all, he must be sustained by an absolute purpose and final meaning.” PELZ
This is a question sent me on my birthday by Sister Fely Villareal, daughter of Speaker [Cornelio] Villareal. It reflects the old thought of dominant leadership, unquestioning and unquestioned, a total and final commitment that overwhelms all doubts and hesitation.
It describes me now—in the realm of authority as well as in the arena of thought.
10:00 AM September 14, 1971[2]
Tuesday
It is the sentiment of even those who bear no affection for me:
That the rally yesterday at which the radicals kept shouting revolution and “Patayin si Marcos” and similar inflammatory cries proved my point that the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus does not affect the other civil rights and that other than the men who are engaged in rebellion, everything is normal.
That the participation of the Manila Times publisher Chino [Joaquin] Roces proves the bias and prejudice of the newspaper.
That the reaction of the usual critics in media proves the point I raised in the book that media is unreliable as a participant in the democratic dialogue for it tends to be subjective and not objective.
That the newspapers have again banded together to exaggerate the alleged demands for the lifting of the suspension. The Plaza Miranda rally of Monday was headlined as held by 50,000 whom our actual count is 15,000 to 20,000.
And the colleges and school actually compelled attendance in the rally. There was also some coercion by the KM [Kabataang Makabayan] student leaders.
In the Philippines, if we anal[y]ze the personalities in media, it will be apparent that the dominant ones—those in control of the positions and organizations that direct the publication of news—are leftists.
So the whole atmosphere of the media world is that of the fashionable leftist.
Even those who try to be the true newspaperman must assume a defensive stance against the assaults of the aggressive leftists who dominate the group.
Thus in the Plaza Miranda rally of Monday, Chino Roces and A[r]mando Doronila are carrying the standard of the National Press Club. Juan Mercado is head of the Philippine News Service. I[ndalencio] P. Soliongco and Ernesto Granada as well as Renato Constantino are with Chronicle. The MOPC [Manila Overseas Press Club] is run by Max [Maximo] Soliven.
The pictures of the media shows the media participation. Apparently this is their answer to my book with its criticism of media.
Worked out the usual political conflicts:
Pangasinan
Laguna
Ilocos Norte
Lanao
Cotabato
And worked on the rice distribution of RCA [Rice and Corn Administration] as rice may become the principal issue in the elections.
Usec. [Jose] Drilon [Jr.] is worried that because of the drought and the tungro infestation [viral rice disease] there may also be a shortage of rice next year.
11:20 PM September 15, 1971[3]
Wednesday
The principal suspect is missing or hiding: This was the lead of the answered of the investigating agencies (The MPD [Manila Police District], the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] and the CIS [Criminal Investigation Service]) whom I called to a conference at 8:00 PM covered by media because of the repeated impatience of the opposition and the media for the refusal of these agencies to disclose their evidence.
But as MPD chief, Gen. [Gerardo] Tamayo and NBI Director Jolly Bugarin said, premature revelations may prejudice the solution of the case.
And they admitted that they have the evidence with respect to the principal suspect.
Of course they are referring to Lyn Oreta, the brother-in-law of Sen. [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.].
They also admitted that while some witnesses were arrested by the MPD under the ordinary powers of the police (since they cannot or are not authorized to arrest under the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus) those same witnesses were turned over to the CIS inasmuch as they made admissions which showed the probability that the crime of rebellion was committed. The MPD chief was referring to [Rogelio] Magsino and [Leoncio] Manalaysay.
Justice Fred Ruiz Castro, taking lunch with Sen. [Jose] Roy at the request of the former, suggested that I successively lift the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus first in the Visayas then in Mindanao. He believes that this will make the decision in the Supreme Court unanimous. While he insisted that this was his own idea, Sen. Roy is of the belief and I agree with him that this is the idea of the justices as a whole.
Anyway, he says that the court is convinced there is a rebellion but not in the entire Philippines. And while it is true that the 18 hours rule of detention would prevail over the areas in which the suspension is lifted, the detained persons can be brought to an area where the suspension has not been lifted, namely Luzon.
A survey of the Manila area shows only 25% are in favor of the suspension, 50% are against but only 13 know that the suspension is limited to rebellion and does not cover other crimes.
62% believe that the tensions are due to the manner of reporting of media.
I attach the report from the Executive Secretary in Envelope IX-D with other papers.
And another of Princeton Poll.
10:20 PM September 16, 1971[4]
Thursday
Today I must plan my life anew. All the old concepts must give way to the new, objective and cruel tyrannies of the present.
Painful but unavoidable. And I am deeply sad.
But all the more am I resolved to be strong and resilient.
I am getting irritable and sensitive. And while outwardly calm, I am boiling inside me.
And my problem is I take it out of Imelda my poor wife. I do not know how she can tolerate my boorishness these days.
Had dinner with Justice Fred Ruiz Castro and Sen. [Jose] Roy and he affirmed that:
The justices believe there is rebellion but not all over the Philippines.
That in the event of an arrest by the military under the suspension, the court will issue the writ of habeas corpus but upon return by the detaining officer, the court would inquire if there was reasonable ground to believe that the detained person was guilty of rebellion or insurrection.
This looks dangerous because then the courts would be reviewing the evidence but then it might not be as under my own instructions “reasonable ground to believe that the crime of rebellion has been committed” is explicitly required.
That if I lift the suspension in the Visayas, Mindanao and some provinces of Luzon, the decision to uphold my proclamation would be unanimous.
I intend to lift the suspension in the Visayas next Saturday so that it will hit the Sunday papers. I will be in Cebu by then.
Then I go to Mindanao (Iligan) and lift the suspension for Mindanao.
I may lift the suspension in Masbate, Romblon, Mindoro Or. [Orriental] and Mindoro Occ. [Occidental], Marinduque, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Batangas, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union and Pangasinan jointly with other area of Visayas or Mindanao.
Then the critics could not say that the suspension is politically motivated or intended to prepare for martial law.
[1] Official Gazette for September 13, 1971: P resident Marcos signed into law House Bill No. 2306 separating the subprovince of Quirino from Nueva Vizcaya and constituting it into a regular province. The signing was witnessed by a delegation of barrio captains and Mayors at Malacañang headed by Sen. Leonardo B. Perez, Rep. Benjamin B. Perez, author of the measure, and Mayor Dionieio A. Sarandi of Maddela, Nueva Vizcaya, official NP candidate for governor of the proposed province. The President continued receiving provincial delegations who reported on the progress of vai’ious improvement projects in their respective localities. The delegations included those from Isabela headed by Gov. Samuel F. Reyes and Rep. Rodolfo Albano, Surigao del Norte led by Rep. Constantino Navarro, Zamboanga del Sur led by Rep. Vicente Cerilles, and Binangonan, Rizal headed by Vice May or Antonio Antiporda.
[2] Official Gazette for September 14, 1971: P resident Marcos had a comparatively quiet day, enabling him to concentrate more on state matters and paper work. Of the few visitors, among the most prominent were Ambassador Hadji Bin Mohamed of Singapore and his wife, who called to say goodbye to the President before enplaning for Singapore for reassignment following the completion of his tour of duty here. Belated birthday best wishes continued to reach the President, including the receipt of a plaque expressing birthday felicitations from the municipal and barrio officials of Batac, Ilocos Norte. The President received a few other visitors, mostly officials who came to consult him on local matters. Most of the time, he worked at his desk with his aides. He signed, among others, the appointment of Prof. Estelito P. Mendoza as ad interim undersecretary of justice. Mendoza filled the post vacated by former Undersecretary Ramon Fernandez, who had been appointed associate justice of the Court o f Appeals.
[3] Official Gazette for September 15, 1971: P resident Marcos conferred in the evening with the heads of the investigating agencies of the government working on the Plaza Miranda bombing incident. In reporting on the progress of the investigation, the chiefs of the investigating agencies assured the President and the general public that they were doing everything within their capacities and capabilities to solve the case, contrary to speculations that they had failed and were not doing anything about it. Among those who met with the President were NBI Director Jolly Bugarin, Brig. Gen. Gerardo Tamayo, MPD chief; Col. Prospero Olivas, CIS chief; and Col. Enrique Morales, MPD Detective Bureau chief. The President-had other conferences earlier in the day, mostly with local executive on local development projects. He also received the officers of two organizations—the Lawyers League for Better Philippines led by Victor G. Nituda, and the District and City Engineers League (DACEL) led by Augusto F. Perez who presented resolutions reiterating their support of the President’s decision suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. The President, however, vowed not to curtail freedom of speech but to let all speak out their minds so that the democratic dialogue would continue since “the suspension of the privilege of the writ does not alter the democratic atmosphere but only the relations between the rebels and traitors, who are few and far between, and the great majority who believe in democracy and freedom .” In accepting the resolutions, the President said “these strengthen my will and resolve that, over and above anything, we must continue to take all steps necessary to protect our democratic way of life.” Earlier, the President inducted into office the officers of the DACEL, in the presence of the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, Senators Rene Espina, Lorenzo Teves and Mamintal Tamano, and Highways Commissioner Baltazar Aquino. Inducted by the President were Augusto F. Perez, president; Felino C. Manalo and Pacifico T. Aranas, vice presidents; Fernando C. Montes, secretary; Laureano S. Mendiola, treasurer; Alfredo P. Torres, auditor; Romulo M. del Rosario, PRO; and the mem bers of the board of directors.
[4] No Official Gazette entry for this day.