Upi, Cotobato was retaken this morning by the 2nd Inf. Bn. [Infantry Battalion] with special forces teams supported by the 15th PC [Philippine Constabulary] Bn. that came from Ulatanga.
Only there WIA [wounded in action] on our side.
We have to reveal the intensified subversive activities at least in Luzon and Visayas as we may have to take overt counter action including mass arrests and detention.
I have ordered the declassification of Operations Sea Hawk which will bring out the Doña Andrea and M/B Elbie cases of gun smuggling, the Kalayaan and the National Democratic Front.
I have also ordered the Calbiga incident to be released later to the media.
But there is an alarming increase of AWOL [absent without leave] in the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] units, operating in Mindanao and Sulu.
More rotation for R & Rand troop information is necessary.
Cayetano Ludo, the biggest coconut oil exporter came to see me this morning accompanied by Ralph Nubla and he confirmed the report that international speculators were deliberately depressing the price of coconut oil.
So 1 have ordered the suspension of the exports of coconut oil pending the organization of a Board of Coconut exports.
The price of coconut oil was depressed from $0.60 to $0.50 a pound in 30 days. We could lose $50 million in six months at this rate.
I have also made mandatory the P50 cost of living allowance for the private sector.
We have to work on a program of raw materials diplomacy.