October 20, 1972

[1] Official Gazette for October 21, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS issued Decree No. 27 ordering the transfer of land ownership from the landowners to the tenants, thus liberating the tenants from age-old bondage to their landlords. The President signed the important document which he himself had carefully written in longhand, before thousands of tenant beneficiaries who had jampacked the Maharlika Hall and spilled into the Malacañang grounds to witness the important event. After affixing his signature to the document, the President declared that “ henceforth the farmers all over the country will be emancipated from the bondage of their landlords. ” The order which embodies the dream and aspirations of generations of Filipino farmers, comes on the heels of centuries-long social upheavals and discontent and is, therefore, the main thrust in the administration ’ s effort to form a new society based on reforms. The decree affects some 715,000 tenants in about 1.5 million hectares of private rice and corn lands throughout the country. The establishment of a new society is going apace with only the welfare of the people and of the Republic as the standard of conduct, the President assured in an address to the nation over radio-television from the jampacked Maharlika Hall of Malacañang. He said that the country is making steady progress because of the almost unanimous approval and wholehearted support of the people for the government policies under Martial Law. Recapitulating the important steps taken since his proclamation exactly a month ago, the President said: 1. The land reform program has gained momentum and the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 27 emancipates the tenants from their landlords; 2. Under the New Society, the poor and the small man gets the same treatment as the rich and the powerful; 3. The peace and order situation had improved 90 per cent with the surrender of firearms going apace; 4. Crooked judges and officials and employees facing charges or considered notoriously undesirable have been hooted out of the service; and 5. The country has gained more trust and confidence as the climate for investment has become favorably conducive. Meanwhile, the Department of Finance reported that there has been an abrupt decline in smuggling activities since the declaration of Martial Law. The decrease in smuggling was brought about by the resolute exercise by law enforcement units, of searches and seizures of contrabands in dwellings, watercraft, aircraft and land vehicles without the need of legal warrants. A press dispatch from the United Press International reported how Filipinos, in hundreds of letters sent daily to President Marcos, endorsed the steps taken by the administration to restore peace and order and reform Philippine social and economic life.

[2] Full text, four handwritten pages, of the Proclamation signed by Marcos is attached between the entries of October 20 and 21, 1972

[3] Official Gazette for October 22, 1972: BATAC, ILOCOS NORTE, the hometown of President Marcos, is a model community in which the principles of cooperative endeavors have been applied. According to the Agricultural Credit Administration (ACA), the pivotal agent which brought about the growth of the cooperative movement in this prosperous town is the Batac Producers ’ Cooperative Marketing Association. It was organized by then Rep. Ferdinand E. Marcos of Ilocos Norte ’ s second congressional district. The cooperative started with 200 members with a paid-up capital of P2,000. Since then, its volume of business has steadily grown up as it branched out into tobacco procuring, warehousing, piggery, marketing, gasoline station operation, lumber and hardware retailing. The ACA ’ s branch office in Ilocos Norte reported that the total assets of the Batac Procoma amounts to P1 million as of fiscal year 1971-72. The catastrophic July-August floods whipped up to a dramatic pitch the crying need for forest conservation. The pitch drew enthusiastic response. The government sector and, surprisingly, the once unperturbed private sector, the youths in particular, plunged into tree-planting on a scale and with an enthusiasm never witnessed before. About 800 youth volunteers composed mostly of students from Manila. Pampanga, the Bulacan National Agriculture College and the Pampanga Boy Scouts stuck some 78,000 tree seedlings over an estimated 24 hectare on the foothills of Mt. Arayat.

[4] Official Gazette for October 23, 1972: ADDRESSING some 800 executive judges, provincial and city fiscals and legal officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, President Marcos called on the judiciary to assume a big role in the Reformation. The President told the government judges and prosecutors that if there was any immediate cause for revolution or rebellion, it is injustice. Pie said that both the quality and quantity of justice in the Philippines had been the subject of criticism and political oratory. The backlog of 103,000 pending cases in the courts of justice clearly indicated justice delayed, the President stated. While it is necessary to uphold the constitutional ruling on Parity Rights, this matter shall be pursued in the spirit of justice and fairness to all. The President gave this reassurance in a speech read for him by Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. before the conference of Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers, sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. “ If expropriation is to be undertaken, just compensation wall be forthcoming, ” the President told the conference which was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati, Rizal. President Marcos convoked the Cabinet in a two-hour meeting to get a progress report on the administration ’ s on-going projects. Discussed at the meeting: (1) public works projects, particularly in Central Luzon and the Manila area which suffered heavily during the last floods; (2) completion of the Greater Manila Terminal Food Market; (3) organization of cooperatives to spur the land reform program; and (4) progress of scientific research in the Philippines. Letter of Implementation issued by the President abolished the Office of Agrarian Counsel and created in its place the Bureau of Agrarian Legal Assistance under the Department of Agrarian Reform. This Letter which was issued in pursuance to Presidential Decree No. 1 of September 24, reorganizing the executive branch of the national government, also creates the Citizens Legal Assistance Office under the Department of Justice. In the meanwhile, the President received the credentials of Ambassador Frederico Jose de Souza Teixera de Sampayo, the new envoy of Portugal to the Philippines. Ambassador Sampayo succeeded Ambassador Julio Menimo Salcedas who had been called to the home office for reassignment. In receiving the letters of credence of the new envoy, the President expressed the hope that the close understanding between the Philippines and Portugal should give rise to other means of assistance for their mutual benefit.

[5] Official Gazette for October 24, 1972: CHAIRMAN and members of the two Adjudication Boards and the first six Boards of Investigators have formally organized in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 12 issued by President Marcos. The decree provided that adjudication boards be created by the Police Commission to review and dispose of all administrative cases in city and municipal police forces. The decree also provides the creation of a board of investigators in each province and city to hear police cases in their respective jurisdictions. The initial boards were for Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay and Rizal province. Three district officers of the Thailand Ministry of the Interior hailed what they called the Philippines ’ current reinvigorated program for national development. Mr. Yongyoot Kontrong, Mr. Bunton Suksapit and Mr. Chairog Siribon who recently toured the country for two weeks, observed that the Philippines appeared advanced in more ways than one than most developing countries in Asia. Philippine commercial attaches stationed in different parts of the world have, meanwhile, taken steps to inform prospective tourists and visitors to the Philippines about improved conditions here since the imposition of Martial Law. The D. Kr. 30 million (Danish Kroner) loan, about P28 million, from the Danish government to finance capital goods for the economic development of the Philippines finally materialized recently. The loan agreement which was entered into by the Philippines and Denmark on March 19, 1972 will be used to finance the purchase of some 5,000 diesel engines for irrigation pumps. The Danish diesel engines will start arriving in the country by January of next year and will continue to arrive at the rate of from 75 units to 240 units monthly until January 1975. The significance of this agreement is that within the next two years, the country shall be able to put under irrigation some 60,000 hectares of riceland on a year-round basis. Assuming that the average yield per hectare is 100 cavans (two crops), an additional harvest of six million cavans can easily be realized.

[6] Official Gazette for October 25, 1972: THE LEAGUE of City Councilors of the Philippines expressed full support and complete adherence to the imposition of Martial Law by President Marcos. The league, in a press statement, announced that the organization stands four-square behind the President and would actively participate in the task of “ national rebuilding. ” Spokesman of the league asserted that there have been marked changes in both governmental and private sectors, among which are: “ 1. Trust and confidence is being strengthened in the government, more particularly in law enforcement and in the administration of justice; “ 2. The new society is steadily doing away with grafters, opportunists and corruptors in both governmental and private sectors; “ 3. Peace and order has greatly improved and this has been observed with gratification by the citizenry, by people from all walks of life; and “ 4. The economic stability of the people, particularly in the low-income levels, has improved and is now fast becoming a reality due to the President ’ s control in the distribution and pricing of basic elements of livelihood such as prime commodities, house rentals and, more specifically, the declaration of the entire country as a land reform area. ” President Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 16-A amending Presidential Decree No. 16 dated Oct. 5, 1972 entitled. “ Amending Section 34 (b) of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, exempting capital gains, except shares of stocks of corporations under Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6141 under certain conditions. ” Paragraph 5 of Presidential Decree No. 16 was amended to read as follows: “ Sec. 34 (b)—In the case of a taxpayer, other than a corporation, no gain or loss will be recognized on the portion of the gains realized that corresponds to the portion of the proceeds of the sale, disposition or transfer of capital assets, except shares of stocks of corporations covered in Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6141, invested in capital stocks of preferred productive enterprises or in the purchase of new issues of government bonds, securities, debentures and notes other than treasury bills, within six (6) months from the date the gains were realized: Provided, That the shares of stocks or government instruments representing the investments are not disposed of, transferred, assigned or conveyed for a period of three (3) years from the date the investment was made, otherwise all the taxes due on the gains realized from the original transfer, sale or disposition of the capital assets shall immediately become due and payable. ” The President also issued General Order No. 12-A amending G. O. No. 12 dated Sept. 30, 1972 by further defining the jurisdiction of military tribunals and prescribing that decisions of these tribunals shall be subject to appeal and or review by the President. (See full text under Presidential Decrees.) The President, likewise, issued Letter of Instructions No. 32 addressed to the chairman-general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, ordering the dismissal of one employee and acceptance of the resignation of 19 others in the PCSO. The dismissal and acceptance of resignations was recommended by the PCSO head in implementation of the program of reforms in the public service.

[7] Official Gazette for October 26, 1972: PRICES of prime commodities have decreased by as much as 66 per cent this week compared with prices prevailing before the proclamation of Martial Law. In a report to President Marcos, the Secretary of Trade and Tourism said that, based on the price survey made by the Bureau of Commerce, prices of 17 essential food items have registered decreases from one to 60 per cent. The President, meanwhile, met with his fiscal and economic advisers in an effort to further reduce the prices of prime commodities. During ’ the meeting, the President approved the proposal of the chairman of the Development Lank of the Philippines to adopt the concept of socialized prices. Under this concept, items usually used by the high and middle-income groups will remain at their present levels, while the cheaper items ordinarily used by the low-income groups will be reduced. President Marcos informed a visiting U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID) that emphasis has been given to land reform, rehabilitation and rural electrification in the distribution of U.S. aid to the Philippines. The President discussed the utilization of the initial S30 million aid pledged by U.S. President Nixon to assist the Central Luzon flood victims, together with the $50 million earmarked for their rehabilitation. Franking privilege to all official communications and papers connected with the conduct of judicial proceedings, was extended by President Marcos. Contained in Presidential Decree No. 26, the privilege allows judges of the Courts of First Instance, Circuit Criminal Courts, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Courts of Agrarian Relations, Court of Industrial Relations, Military Tribunals, and City and Municipal Courts to transmit in the mail, free of charge, all official communications and papers directly connected with the conduct of judicial proceedings. Newspaper and magazine publishers were urged to use local newsprint in putting out their publications by Secretary of Public Information Francisco S. Tatad. The Secretary endorsed the report of the Board of ’ Investments which stated that local paper manufacturers can now satisfy the need of publishers, and their products can compete in both quality and price with the imported kinds. “ Rumor-mongers and those who thrive on dishing out false information inimical to public welfare or that would tend to make the people unduly worry or jittery will be arrested and detained. ” This was emphasized by the chief of the Philippine Constabulary in the face of some rumors circulating in the Greater Manila Area and in the province that the Constabulary will conduct a “ zone-wide ” search or “ zone ” of whole blocks in attempts to ferret out criminal elements or illegal possessors of firearms. The PC chief stressed that these unfounded stories are false and have no basis in fact.

[8] Official Gazette for October 27, 1972: ARREST and detention of persons engaged in trafficking or black-marketing of US dollars or other foreign or local currency, as well as those engaged in dynamite fishing and the sale or distribution of dynamited fish, was authorized by President Marcos. The President gave the authority through General Orders Nos. 2-B and 2-C on currency black-marketing and on dynamite fishing, respectively, amending in the process General Order No. 2 dated September 22, 1972, as amended by General Order No. 2-A. General Orders 2 and 2-A define the persons or individuals to be arrested for various crimes or infractions of the law and “ for acts inimical to the government, the state and the people. ” The President also issued Decree No. 30 amending the National Internal Revenue Code and introducing a system of withholding tax payment on a quarterly basis for corporations. In signing the decree which adopted a bill pending in Congress before the proclamation of Martial Law, the President said there is need to ensure the continuous and even flow of revenue collections in order to provide ready financing for essential government operations and projects. In order to achieve that desired end, he said, it is necessary to introduce a new system of income tax payment on a quarterly basis that is both advantageous to the government and the taxpayer. Another Presidential Decree issued by the Chief Executive authorized an increase in the subscription of the Philippines to the capital stock of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Bank had approved an increase in its authorized capital from $1.1 billion to $2.75 billion to enable it to maintain the pace of its assistance to developing member-countries. The corresponding increase in the Philippine subscription is $43 million in callable capital and P18.3 million in paid-in-capital. The Philippines has been the recipient of various loans from the ADB aggregating $82 million. This amount has partially satisfied the great need of the Philippine government for funds to finance its economic development projects. “ To facilitate the implementation of the social reform program of the government designed to improve the economic conditions in our country and the life of our people, ” the President issued Letter of Instruction No. 34 directing the People ’ s Homesite and Housing Corporation to take immediate steps toward the acquisition of the Tatalon Estate located in Quezon City, “ in its entirety or so much thereof as may be necessary for the purposes stated in Republic Act No. 2616, by negotiation with the known and registered owner or owners thereof or, should this be not feasible, by expropriation pursuant to the aforesaid law. ” The President, in the same letter, directed the Secretary of Finance, the Commissioner of the Budget and the Chairman, Reparations Commission “ to set aside, certify and or make available immediately the sum of ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) as provided for in Republic Act No. 2616 or so much thereof as may be necessary to carry out effectively the objectives herein mentioned; and for this purpose, to devise and employ ways and means of raising the necessary funds, including the use of government bonds, as well as of proceeds from reparations payments under the Reparations Law. The President, likewise, directed the Mayor of Quezon City to secure the area immediately and prevent any person not contemplated as beneficiaries, from entering and occupying any portion of the estate, and to render such assistance as may be necessary or as may be requested by the PHHC general manager in connection with the implementation of his Letter of Instruction.

[9] Official Gazette for October 28, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS took steps to carry out the formation of a “ Do Tank ” that will assure the speedy and effective implementation of the administration ’ s specific programs of reforms. In Letter of Instructions No. 36 addressed to the Executive Secretary, the Chairman of the Reorganization Commission and Cabinet members concerned, the President directed the appointment or designation of regional implementing officers or implementors. These officers are empowered to utilize the prerogatives of the Office of the President in their supervision of projects to enable them to call upon the manpower and other resources of other government agencies in the particular region in the achievement of objectives of the various vital programs and projects. The officers are responsible not only to the department secretaries concerned but to the President as well, and shall submit periodic progress and accomplishment reports. “ I hope this organization will create the corps of action officers for the ‘ Do Tank ’ which is vital to the achievement of the goals of reforms envisioned for the New Society, ” the President said in his Letter. The Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Communications was directed by President Marcos to implement the reorganization of the regional offices and highway district offices of the Bureau of Public Highways as set forth in the Integrated Reorganization Plan for the Executive Branch of the government. In his Letter of Instruction No. 6, the President adopted the recommendation of the Commission on Reorganization on the BPH regional offices and the highway district offices in line with the decentralization scheme of the administration. To facilitate the weeding out of criminal and lawless element among the country ’ s police forces. President Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 12-B providing for the summary removal from the service of policemen who are recidivists or notoriously undesirable on the ground of dishonesty, incompetence or other kind of misconduct. An initial batch of 114 policemen was, forthwith, suspended by the Police Commission in pursuance of this decree. The chairman of the Police Commission said those suspended are facing charges for serious offenses, with evidence of guilt against them to be strong. Ordered suspended were 36 from Quezon City, 23 from Caloocan City, 20 from Manila, 13 from Olongapo City, 11 from Pasay City, seven from Navotas, Rizal, two from Taguig, Rizal and two from Muntinglupa, Rizal. The President, likewise, ordered the preventive suspension of Gov. Patricio Dumlao of Nueva Vizcaya in view of serious charges filed against him by a town mayor in that province and a lady dentist of Bayombong, the provincial capital. The President has advised Vice Governor Luis Bernabe, Sr. to assume the office of the governor during the suspension period of Gov. Dumlao. Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile was ordered by President Marcos to take over and control the assets of corporations owned and controlled by Fernando Jacinto. In Letter of Instructions No. 35, the President said that in order to further protect the interests of the government in the Iligan Integrated Steel Mills, Inc. and in furtherance of Letter of Instructions No. 27 dated October 14, 1972, the Secretary of National Defense was ordered to take over the assets of the following: (1) Jacinto Steel Incorporated; (2) Jacinto Iron and Steel Sheets Corporation; (3) J & P Shipping Corporation; and (4) Beatriz Marketing and Trading Corporation.

[10] Official Gazette for October 29, 1972: WHEN PRESIDENT Marcos promulgated Decree No. 27 on Oct. 21 declaring the whole country a land reform area, he virtually released hundreds of thousands of agricultural tenants of rice and corn lands from perpetual bondage. From now on, the lowly tenants, whether in big landed estates or not, are freed from economic fetters which have shackled them for centuries. They will now be able to reign supreme over the tract of land on which they have built now-dilapidated nipa shacks for their families. The tenants are now freed from the stranglehold of unscrupulous landlords and usurers who have buried them and their children neck-deep in debt. Most important of all, they will no longer labor under the constant fear of ejection from the land they are tilling, so that by hard work, their children will no longer inherit ignorance. They will be able to send their children to school so that they “ might rise to higher levels of hope, ambition and competence . . . achievement and power. ” Some 61,00 farmers cultivating 188,00 hectares of land and 155 cooperative associations were extended loans worth P45.13 million by the Agricultural Credit Administration during the fiscal year which ended last June 30. This amount represents an increase of P2.44 million over that of last year ’ s. The categories of ACA disbursements were: production loans. P33.43 million; commodity loans, P6.31 million; marketing loans, P 4.81 million; and facility loans, P575,352. Of the total number of farmers granted loans, P38,000 were leasehold tenants covered by the government ’ s land reform program, while 13,000 were farmers in pre-land reform areas involved in the increase food production program under the supervision of the National Food and Agricultural Council. South Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Dang Lam, on the first leg of his trip to Asian countries to brief Saigon ’ s allies on the Vietnam war situation, was received by President Marcos at Malacañang. The ambassador handed the President a letter from South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu.

[11] Official Gazette for October 30, 1972: DURING a two-hour Cabinet meeting, the President discussed ways and means of bringing down the prices of commodities to within the means of the low-income group. He said that prime commodities are being given priority at the moment but the move to reduce prices will cover all items. The President was informed at the meeting that: There was no problem in connection with rice and corn at present. The administrator of the National Grains Authority said that the ordinary rice variety has dropped to as low as P2.30 per ganta in Manila; There is now an over-supply of leafy vegetables as a result of the post-food plantings, and the price of vegetables has gone down; The pesticides manufacturers have agreed to reduce prices by 10 per cent in order to boost production; Fisheries production can be increased by removing some of the restrictions imposed by the Fisheries Commission and the Philippine Coast Guard; Meat prices have gone down except at the Nepa-Q and Farmers Markets in Quezon City where, although the wholesalers are selling meat at reduced prices, the retailers refused to reduce prices; The huge Russian wheat purchase from the United States tends to increase the price of wheat flour and bread; In some products, it is only a question of distribution; and In consonance with the New Society, the drug manufacturers have agreed to a 10 per cent cut in prices of those drugs and medicines not yet under the Price Control Council list. The President proclaimed Nov. 1, All Saints Day, as a special public holiday. Proclamation No. 1086 issued by Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor stated that paying homage to the dead on All Saints Day is one of the country ’ s cherished traditions and that the people should be given full opportunity to observe the day with all its religious fervor. Secretary Francisco S. Tatad of the Department of Public Information, however, reminded the people that the curfew hours from 12 midnight to 4 a.m. prescribed under General Order No. 4 issued by the President on Sept. 22, had not been suspended and that it would remain in force throughout the country on All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2). The Administrator of Economic Coordination reported to the President that the Iligan Integrated Steel Mills Inc. had resumed operations. The report stated that the Iligan cold mill in Iligan City started functioning after a shutdown of more than one year and that local officials, businessmen and residents hailed the government takeover of the ISMI which employs more than 1,000 workers. The reactivation of the mill which is the largest in the country, will increase the supply of critical steel products. Eighty-four officials and employees separated from the service led the list of 118 personnel of the Government Service Insurance System against whom action had been taken by the GSIS general manager. The 118 GSIS personnel were listed in two successive reports submitted by the manager in compliance with the President ’ s Letter of Instruction No. 14-A issued last Oct. 5 which directed heads of government offices to take disciplinary action against civil servants facing administrative charges or those notoriously undesirable. At the Bureau of Customs, a total of 111 officials and employees were likewise separated from the service in line with the President ’ s policy to clean up the government and bring about efficient and honest service. This constitutes the second batch of personnel weeded out of the bureau and brings to 308 the total number of employees dismissed or considered resigned, which is 8 per cent of the customs force. President Marcos directed the Secretary of Labor and the Chief of the Philippine Navy to prepare a comprehensive plan for manpower training for Filipino seamen. The directive was designed to prevent foreign merchant ship owners from exploiting Filipino sailors. In his directive, the President said, “ I understand that the Filipino is a good sailor, but there is no available training facility for ordinary sailors. ” Over P27.1 million worth of community development projects have been completed during the past 12 months in southern Mindanao provinces. Among the community development projects completed were 6,036 undertaken by barrio people. Of the total amount spent for the projects, only P2.2 million was contributed by the Presidential Arm on Community Development in the form of processed materials. The rest of the amount in terms of land site, free labor and local materials was borne by the barrio residents, as well as the local governments and civic clubs. The projects consisted of irrigation dams and pumps, multi-purpose centers and pavements, barrio halls, markets, crop dryers, barrio roads, nurseries and undertakings to stimulate farm production through mechanization and the use of modern farm methods.

[12] The “Original Group” named by Marcos in this entry is the definitive list of his closest advisers at the time, often referred to as the “Rolex 12” from an urban legend that Marcos gifted each one with a personalized Rolex watch, other sources say the brand was Omega. In “Millenials: You ain’t seen nothing yet” by Inquirer Research on September 21, 2015 the list differs with the inclusion of Gen. Tomas Diaz not in Marcos’ reckoning who listed Gen Tranquilino Paranis.

[13] Official Gazette for October 31, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS issued Presidential Decree No. 34 amending the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines. The code titled “ Tariff and Customs Revision Act of 1972 ” passed by Congress during the last special session is expected to generate P400 million additional revenue a year. The new code which becomes part of the laws of the land, supplants the Tariff and Customs Code under Republic Act No. 1937. The present code is amended so as to: Simplify the present complicated tariff structure and improve thereby the administration of customs; Raise additional revenue; Provide tariff protection to economically desirable and deserving local industries; Serve as an instrument for bargaining vis-a-vis other countries; Allocate properly available resources from investments in nonessentials to investments in essential and exportable goods; and Prevent technical smuggling. The President also issued Presidential Decree No. 33 “ penalizing the printing, possession, distribution and circulation of certain leaflets, handbills and propaganda materials and the inscribing or designing of graffiti ” on wails, fences, sidewalks or any visible public or private place. The penalty of “ prision correccional ” in its minimum period (six months and one day) shall be imposed upon any person who. “ shall print or publish any handbill, leaflet, poster or other similar materials, or shall possess, distribute or circulate any such printed or published materials, or shall draw, write or sketch any immoral or indecent picture or word on any wall, fence, sidewalk or any other visible public or private place, which incites or tends to incite people to violence or disregard, ridicule, defy or ignore any lawful order or act of the government or any of its officers which, in any case, tends to undermine the integrity of the government or the stability of the State. ” A new system of processing import documents that will allow the release of shipments from the piers within 72 hours will be implemented beginning Nov. 6. The new procedure is an improvement of the present practice that requires no less than live days before any importation could be released from customs. The renovation cuts sharply on operational “ red tape ” by 90 per cent. With electronics data also incorporated in the procedure, other operational and management reforms to further simplify customs operations calculated to “ sanitize ” the entire customs system are presently being formulated. The Secretary of Finance ordered the application of the full penalties under the law against the use of defective instruments of weights and measures in public markets and places of trade and commerce. The Secretary issued the order after receiving reports from seven provincial and 12 city treasurers who confirmed the rampant use of defective weighing instruments and measures in public markets and other places of trade and commerce in their respective provinces and cities. A town mayor was convicted by the Rizal Court of First Instance for making unlawful appointment of unqualified policemen in his municipality. Mayor Demetrio Loresca of Muntinglupa, Rizal was sentenced to a prison term of one month and one day of arresto mayor and to pay a fine of P500 with accessory penalties of suspension of the right to hold office and the right of suffrage during the term of the sentence. The court which handed down the decision, noted that from January 1967 to May 1968, the mayor had appointed 14 policemen who were either high school undergraduates, overaged, or were underaged. “ The fact that the appointments were approved by the Civil Service Commission notwithstanding the patent disqualification of the appointees did not in any way extinguish the criminal liability of the accused, ” the court stated. A military commission sentenced an enlisted man to a prison term of 20 years at hard labor. The commission found marine Corporal Baltazar Batugo guilty of the charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions in violation of Presidential Decree No. 9. Batugo was ordered dishonorably discharged from the service and to forfeit his pay and allowances due. He was caught by military authorities last Oct. 18 with three M-14s and several rounds of ammunition and ammunition magazines. The firearms and ammunition were part of the firearms cache discovered last May at Digoyo Point, Isabela.