March 24, 1973

Saturday

Brought the IMF [International Monetary Fund] mission to a cruise to Luuk Bay up to 2:00 PM where we water skied and then visited with Cristina Ponce Enrile in Natipoan Cove, Nasugbu on where they have a beach house.

Tried out the cigarette [vote?] to ski. Powerful and steady. The wake is no problem.

Met the young men being trained for higher executive jobs in the Central Bank—Itchon, Sison, Tiaoqui and Garcia now with Economic Research.

Showed Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile who was with us and learned to stand up on the skis, the reports against Gen. [Guillermo] Picache, Col. [Paulino] Briones [Jr.] of Amcar, the Andayas, Col. [Generoso] Alejo and others.

We decided Gen. [Fabian] Ver has to start actively working with the NISA [National Intelligence and Security Authority] and Gen. [Ismael] Lapuz of the NICA [National Intelligence Coordinating Agency] has to go.

Cotabato is active. I attach report.

11:00 PM March 25, 1973[1]

The Mansion at Baguio City Sunday

Arrived by Fokker at 9:05 AM. Honor guard by the PMA [Philippine Military Academy] new senior class.

10:00-12:00 AM [sic]—After coffee and meeting with the governors, mayors and the four Presidential Project Supervisors—delivered the closing speech at the Tri-sectoral Congress of NASAC.

Lunch with the local executives. A short nap and ______.

4:00 PM—Graduation of PMA.

8:00 PM—PMAAA [Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association] Dinner.

Cavalier Award and a deeply inspired speech.

We pledge to keep this cutting edge of our revolutionary force pure, clean, sharp and strong.

Love and death we feel for our people, our country and the fatherland.

We have lost the Ranger Commander in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur and four other KIA [killed in action] and four WIA [wounded in action]. This means we have to concentrate on Zamboanga too.

11:30 PM March 26, 1973[2]

Monday

Played golf in Kaniao at The Mansion at 6:15 AM. Cold and unfamiliarly bundled in thick clothes. No feel on the clubs with Gen. [Romeo] 1Espino, Gov. [Ben] Palispis and Mayor [Luis] Lardizabal.

Opened the new cemented road at the end of session road.

Then took off at 9:55 AM after departure honors.

I have decided today to set aside P20 million for six Kamagong Battalions, two PC [Philippine Constabulary] and two Marine Battalions.

The Zamboanga del Sur, Sulu and Cotabato situations are under control. The Rangers are mopping up in Labangnn. Sulu is quiet. The rebels are cornered in Basilan. Cotabato is quieting down. Only a few skirmishes.

The use of napalm bombs has demoralized the rebels.

10:30 PM March 27, 1973[3]

Tuesday

Ex-Prime Minister Kiichi [Aiichi] arrived at 4:00 PM and called on me at 6:00 PM.

Mr. Cyrus Salzburger and his wife Marina arrived at 6:10 PM and called on me at 7:00 PM. He is the chief Foreign Correspondent of the New York Times and was met by Imee. Our two guests are staying in the palace with us.

I received Vice Mayor Acausa of Tongkil accompanied by Delegate A. [Antonio] Raquiza,

our agent Salafuddin and the Vice Mayor’s secretary. The Vice Mayor helped the beleaguered PC [Philippine Constabulary] troops of the small detachment in the island.

He received a commendation from the Prov. Commander for his courageous act. And I have given him a revolver and a rifle, the revolver to have a bronze plate showing it is a gift from me.

They have been able to meet Maas Bawang the rebel leader in Pananao and Luuk and four other leaders who are ready to surrender and tight for the government.

They will try to prevent hostilities to erupt in the Bilaan Road to Talipao where Mayor Tulamie is preparing to attack the rebels who hold the road and prevent the entry of food into the town. The rebels are under Ra______ a defeated mayor and political opponent of Mayor Tulamie.

It looks to me like the rebels are ready to cooperate with the government if we give the proper enticements.

So I have decided to work the negotiated peace in Sulu through these men.

One disturbing fact in the statement of Maas Bawang to Vice Mayor Acansa and Salafuddin that Ahmad Baguis at the instance of Commodore [Gil] Fernandez, wrote Maas Bawang to kidnap Tony Raquiza on the road to Parang.

I have called Baguis to Manila to be investigated.

12:30 PM March 28, 1973[4]

Wednesday

After the dinner for Cyrus and Marina Salzburger.

7:00 AM—Left by car for Caliraya. Rained last night. Road at the slope (10 kms from the lake muddy) and had to take the one-engine Huey helicopter.

Raining—Strong gusty wind.

This memorial is to courage, honor and dignity. It is a memorial not only to the Japanese warrior but to the Filipino warrior as well.

It matters not the cause…

Let us build an Asia together.

Interview by Cyrus Salzburger – 11:30 AM after returning by helicopter to Pangarap.

1:30 PM March 29, 1973[5]

Mar. 30th Thursday

6:30 AM—Golf with Ex. Prime Minister Kiichi [Aichi].

After the Supreme Court Case, I promised to take up the matter of the Trade Agreement.

Breakfast at the gym.

10:30—Defense Minister Arthur Faulkner.

Japanese on development of the eel Angila Pacifica as compared to Angila Japonica.

11:30—Servants—Maids or Household help.

12:30—Interview by Cy [Cyrus] Salzburger continued. I attach the answers on Vietnam.

Written 6:30 AM March 30, 1973[6]

Mar. 31st Friday

10:30—Credentials presentation by the Finland Ambassador based in Tokyo.

Before this I met with Judge Marcos on his retirement as he is now 70 years old and still facing administrative charges on the Buhda case.

Then Com. [Conrado] Diaz and cigarette manufacturers on the purchase by the private sector of Virginia tobacco.

11:00—Award ceremonies of the Datu Sikatuna and the farewell of Korean Ambassador Kim who has been chosen National Assembly Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Created the Presidential Mindanao Development Task Force ordered the stamping of all currency otherwise demonetized to prevent hoarding and the use of the inventory method to ferret out hidden wealth.

Marguardt interview.

Arrest of PC [Philippine Constabulary] and Forestry personnel in Surigao Sur and Davao Norte.

Cotabato situation well.

Ordered the stoppage of the use of napalm by the Air Force.

9:20 PM March 31, 1973[7]

Saturday

I have ordered that all Central Bank currency be turned in and exchanged with new currency bearing the stamp “Ang Bagong Lipunan.” All currency not turned in by December 31, 1973 will be demonetized. This will smoke out hoarded currency.

Then all persons having property in excess of P100,000 present fair commercial value is directed to submit a sworn statement or inventory of all his property. This will also smoke out hoarded or hidden wealth.

We are preparing for the arrival tomorrow of about 50 executives on the Transport and the Communications mission.

Sec. [Troadio] Quiazon [Jr.] reports that Mr. L. H. Waering who says he is a former U.S. Intelligence Officer, informed him that he has definite information that a certain Maj. Rafeck, a Libyan based in Hongkong and his group supply Cotabato Muslims with money from Libya and ammos from Cambodia and the U.S.; that Henry [Bartholemuez?], Sri Lankan, now posing as an Australian and Capt. W. M. Somerville, Managing Director of Star Air Services, Kowloon, Hong Kong are two of his most active agents.

I have asked Gen. [Fabian] Ver to follow this up.

The fighting in Mindanao and Sulu may delay our economic and social development plans.

But it is probably providential that it happened this early and the Maoists (Nur Misuari, Jassmi Salamat and others) took over the leadership.

It could have been a messy, tedious dirty long series of small attritional skirmishes. But instead they have massed and sought to overrun our detachments and units, succeeding in some.

We have been able to mark out killing zones, pin them down and inflict casualties comparatively impossible in the Luzon campaign.

Rather cold-blooded—but this will short the conflict specially if we can push them to the negotiating table as we have in Sulu.