Sunday
What is the truth about the raid on the Novitiate of the Sacred Heart at Novaliches? Was there any basis for the raid?
The truth is that there was reason to mid the Novitiate as Father Blanco even before Martial Law had been advocating revolution. Four participants in the “Reflection” as the conferences were called by the detained, had presented proofs that the meetings were subversive. And on this particular meeting on the 26th (Monday) Jose Maria Sison and Bong Gallego both of the CPP [Communist Party of the Philippines] and NPA [New People’s Army] were supposed to rendezvous in the Novitiate.
The truth is that the Novitiate had been used (I cannot believe that this is without the knowledge of the priests therein) by subversives and as the PAG report that was taken in the raid states, the subversives are aware that I have been tolerant of this because I do not want a confrontation with the church so they find church property a sanctuary.
This is demonstrated by the cases of Father Jalandoni who joined the NPA, Hagad who documented his anti governmental activities in a letter and in his joining the Sulu secessionists, Abao who was caught with firearms as well as Yushingco and Naen who was printing subversive propaganda in the La Satellite compound.
I would say there are about twenty priests and an equal number of nuns against the administration. The great majority are for it.
But the Armed Forces could have been more sophisticated. They need not have made a raid with uniformed men.
And they might have been too forceful and disrespectful.
They could have merely penetrated the subversive organization and put in more assets as members who could thus could [sic] be used as witnesses.
I have ordered that no more raids be conducted on church premises although what appears in the media is that raids are banned without the approval and presence of the church institution head or his duly authorized representative.
I am optimistic about the participation of Sec. Gen. Mohamed Hassan El Tohamy who has just been ferried by Gen. [Hans] Menzi from Jakarta. He came from Kuala Lumpur (he left Manila on the 25th) was in Singapore on the 29th after seeing Tun Abdul Razak on the 28th, and met Adam Malik in Jakarta on the 31st.
He may be something of a braggart but precisely his self-confidence or ego might just carry him through.
I met him at 8:30 PM after he landed at 5:45 PM at the MIA [Manila International Airport]. He reports that Tun Abdul Razak has given him total support in his effort to negotiate a settlement with the rebel leaders of Mindanao.
Tun Abdul Razak while not admitting the presence of any Filipino Muslim rebels in Malaysia indicated that Tun Mustapha, with whom the claims to be at loggerheads, could get in touch with the rebels.
Sec. Gen. Tohamy says he will work directly with Tun Mustapha through Col. [Muammar] Khadafi of Libya whom he says he dealt with under [Gamal Abdel] Nasser at the start of Kadafi’s take over from King Idris and whom he believes, he can convince to stop giving aid to the rebels through Tun Mustapha by offering a more constructive of development of the Muslim areas.
This is what attracts me most—his direct contact with Khadafi. No one has so much as suggested he could even talk to Col. Khadafi on the Mindanao question. He, alone, has come up with this key proposal.
Of course, as he himself, has said Adam Malik confirmed the fact that when Nur Misuari saw Pres. Soeharto in Manila last May he had asked for support for the creation of a secessionist and independent state, and Pres. Soeharto informed him that he, Misuari, could not expect support for this proposal.
Tohamy repeatedly assured us he would oppose such a proposal. And, of course, the Islamic Conference resolution rejects secession as a solution although it refers to a political solution.
So I told Tohamy we would be willing to give the rebels a share of government appointing governors, mayors and heads of barangays that are chosen by the Muslims as a whole, but that they have to be united in this desire otherwise there would be fighting all over again.
Elections in Muslim localities only after they have laid down their arms.
No dealing or negotiations with outlaws and communists.
Education, economic and social projects. Land for the Muslims.
He spoke of Abu Dhabi supporting the Muslim educational program of the Muslims in Thailand.
Communications between the Welfare and Relief Organization and Cairo and Egypt.
As the plan is now, Tohamy meets the rebel leaders at Cairo or Jeddah—as sent there by Tun Abdul Razak or Tun Mustapha and holds preliminary meetings first with Nur Misuari and later with other rebel leaders.
I must send an ambassador to Egypt immediately so I can use him.
Tun Abdul Razak told Tohamy he was willing to hold a Tripartite Summit meeting after the settlement of the Mindanao conflict.
Tohamy also told me that he told Tun Abdul Razak upon the latter’s inquiry that no one should make any demands of anybody’s territory, referring to Sabah.
I was non-committal although I felt this should not be an issue in the settlement of the Mindanao conflict as this would complicate the negotiations although as I told Pres. Soeharto we would be willing to agree that we recognize existing borders without talking of the Sabah claim.