Monday
I have agreed to a press statement and an aide memoire prepared by Dr. [Mohammad Hassan] El Tohamy I enclose these documents prepared during the morning meeting with Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] but corrected by me 5:00 to 7:40 PM before Tohamy’s departure at 8:20 PM.
The rebel leaders are supported to go to Cairo.
Now Sen. Rene Espina has come to inform me that Nur Misuari wants to see me for negotiations through one of my comrades during the guerilla days (the sailboat trip to Bohol) Sacada.
I have to decide whether to meet with the rebels without the intervention of Indonesian President Soehurto or of Tohamy who are both vying for the honor of negotiating a concentration.
Perhaps it would be best if I can negotiate complete peace without them.
September 3,[1] 4,[2] and 5,[3] 1974
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
I have decided to open the channel of communication and negotiation with the Muslim rebels specially the Moro National Liberation Front through my old guerilla soldier, Isidro Saceda, the son of a Lebanese father who has been staying in Jolo since the presidential campaign of 1965 when I used him as an intelligence operative and campaigner in Agusan. He was instrumental in the surrender of Faisal, the first of the rebel leaders to come out of the hills.
He has lived with the father of Nur Misuari in Jolo and was one of the original seven who swore on the Koran to go to the hills to fight the government because of the abuses of Congressman [Indanan] Anni and his group in 1969 and 1970 and 1971.
I called for him last Tuesday, Sept. 3rd, met him Wednesday at Malacañan with Rene Espina (who were both brought by MGen. [Fabian] Ver). He returned to Jolo via Zamboanga Thursday the 5th on the first PAL [Philippine Airlines] flight.
Since there is a theat to SOWESCOM [Southwest Command] headquarters in Zamboanga City by Acob, I instructed him to first meet Acob and stop him from farther offensive operations—if possible to bring him back to Manila to confer with me. Then Saceda goes to Jolo and works to bring the father of Nur Misuari to see me in Manila.
I have directed Gen. Ver to locate Ex. Gov. [Bienvenido] Ibarle of Zamboanga Sur. According to Saceda he is close to the rebel leader Ampatuan who operates with 250 armed men in Karomatan, the town of Mayor Naga Dimaporo. So I intend to obtain the surrender of Ampatuan through Ex. Gov. Ibarle.
The leader of the Basilan rebels is Habib Moshim. Cotabato is led by a certain Ali and his nephews [Disuminuba?] (not the outlaw) and Ignu.
In Jolo it is Nizzam Abubakar, the son of Mayor Barlay Abubakar—not [Biai Lay Lim?] whom they consider a Chinese communist.
Third ranking is a certain Tam whose father is a superintendent or supervisor I reinstated in 1965 or 1966—then the brother of Nur Misuari [Abulkair?] or Kars, then Isnadji Alvarez.
In Tawi-Tawi it is Dais.
I have all the reason to trust Isidro Saceda. He has always been loyal. His information on the Order of Battle of the rebels is accurate. And he is personally attached to me.
I decided to meet directly with Nur Misuari instead of allowing See. Gen. Mohamad Hassan El Tohamy or Pres. Soeharto to intervene as mediators after interrogating Saceda.
He informed me that last August 1973, the four foreign ministers of the Arab countries representing the Islamic Conference namely Saudi Arabia, Libya, Senegal and Somalia, swore on the Koran at the house of Mayor Barley Abubakar to support the rebels.
Thus even Saudi Arabia sent firearms to the rebels. Saceda was emphatic about this.
This “’made the rebels swell-headed,” he (Saccda) commented—and over confident I might add.
So it is confirmed—my suspicious about even Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Omar Al Sakaff were correct. He deceived us. Passing as a friend, he undercut our position. The Foreign Minister’s report to the Islamic Conference was one-sided and falsified the assumptions.
But we cannot yet afford to unmask them.
It is best that we keep our silence and settle the Muslim problem on our own.
Although the position of the Islamic Conference against secession which was initialed by Indonesia helped us bring the rebels to the negotiating table.
Balabagan has been recovered from the rebels. The main landing force was Commander Asuncion’s 2nd Marine Landing Force, the one that took Tuburan, Maimbung, Bud Datu and Bato Puti.
The 33rd IB [Infantry Battalion] and 26th also participated. It was A and B company of the 26th that was originally surrounded in the Lobregat compound.
September 6,[4] 7,[5] and 8,[6] 1974
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Was sick from anti flu dusts so I could not go to Pantabangan. Sec. C. [Conrado] Estrella delivered it for me although his son, Bobby, died at 7:30 AM.
Sabah Chief Minister Tun Mustapha has been appointed Defense Minister by Tun Abdul Razak in his new cabinet.
This could mean anything, Perhaps Tun Abdul Razak wants to control Sabah as well as the rebels—or control Tun Mustapha as we can stop the fighting in the south.
Balabagan has been recovered but the rebels withdrew without casualties to Parang and Buldon.
Ali Dimaporo told me last Friday, the 6th, that the Balabagan attack from Buldon by Maguindanao’s was caused by abuses of the CHDF [Civilian Home Defense Force] under Col. [Bagnos] Magno of the 26th IB. [Infantry Battalion] Mayor Benito abandoned his town because the CHDF had taken over. But Gen. [Fortunato] Abat says that there were rebels that mixed with the civilians long before the attack on the 22nd—perhaps on the 19th when the residents started to leave town—and the Chief of Police has joined the rebels.
But he has organized the four towns of Balabagan, Malabang, Binidayon and Tuburan to fight the outlaws from Maguindanao.
[1] Official Gazette for September 3, 1974: THE PRESIDENT ordered the immediate fielding of all available units of the Manila Transit Corporation to ease the transportation problem in Greater Manila. The Chief Executive took this step after noting that great number of commuters in various areas of Metropolitan Manila lose valuable manhours waiting for transportation. Meeting with Public Secretary David Consunji and Jose Crisanto Jr., MTC president and general manager, the Chief Executive directed the MTC to: 1) see to it all idle bus units in the premises of bus firms be rebuilt and rehabilitated so that they could be fielded as soon as possible. 2) speed up the acquisition of additional buses.
[2] Official Gazette for September 4, 1974: JEEPNEYS will not be automatically banned upon organization of transport cooperatives. Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, chairman of the Committee Transport Cooperatives, issued the statement to allay jeepney drivers’ and operators’ fears of losing their means of livelihood once a transport cooperative is established in their area. One of the objectives of a transport cooperative, Reyes explained, is to enable the members to acquire managerial and operational expertise in preparation for their participation in the envisioned Mass Transit System. This will include the operation of buses, which provide safer and effective service to the riding public and assure better traffic flow. CENTRAL Bank disclosed that the 35 stock savings and loan associations in the country had topped all banking institutions with a record of 50.20 percent increase in their savings deposits as of June 15 this year. This year’s figure is P32.1 million more than than the P64 million registered in June 30 last year. CB data as of June 15, 1974 showed that the thrift banks had a total of P96.1 million in savings deposits. The thrift banks performance enabled them to occupy the premier position among the banking institutions, capping the first year of the National Savings for Progress campaign spearheaded by the CB.
[3] Official Gazette for September 5, 1974: THE PRESIDENT conferred the Ancient Order of Sikatuna, rank of datu, on outgoing Malaysian Ambassador Datuk Ahmed Zainal Abidin. In presenting the award, the President cited the Malaysian envoy for his services in the field of international relations as a worthy spokesman of his government and people in the Philippines. The Chief Executive said Ambassador Abidin was instrumental in promoting understanding between the two countries through mutually beneficial undertaking. In separate ceremonies at the Malacañang ceremonial hall, the President likewise received the letters of credence of: 1) Ambassador Yaday Prasad Pant, as non-resident ambassador of Nepal to the Philippines and 2) Ambassador Maseo Sawaki, as ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, replacing Ambassador Toshio Urabe. BOARD of Investments reported that 231 export-oriented firms had registered an unprecedented export earnings of $59.7 million for the fiscal year 1973-74 ending June 30. The export receipts of the BOI-registered firms represented an increase of $41.1 million over that of the preceding year. The increase in exports of these enterprises is due to the export expansion of a variety of products such as garments textile yarns, fabrics, cordage, electric components, fish and seafoods preparations.
[4] Official Gazette for September 6, 1974: THE PRESIDENT ordered the release of P10 million from the calamity fund to speed up the rehabilitation of fishpond and fishpen projects devastated by the recent floods. Most of the outlay will go to the purchase of fingerlings and fry for restocking purposes. The residual of the outlay as well as repayments of loans therefrom shall go into a revolving fund for the same or similar purpose. At the same time, the President directed the Central Bank, the Philippine National Bank, the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Agricultural Credit Administration to consolidate and restructure all past-due obligations of fishpond and fishpen operators. The four government financing institutions were also asked by the President to grant a three-year moratorium on the payment of past-due obligations and to make the ceilings for fishpond and fishpen loans more flexible. These moves are among the measures taken by the President to put back in shape flood-hit fishponds and fishpens. ORDER of Sikatuna, rank of Datu, was conferred on Foreign Minister Alhaji A. B. N’Jie of Gambia by the President, “for his sincere and earnest endeavors to promote friendly relations” between his country and the Philippines. In receiving the award in ceremonies held at Malacañang, the Gambian foreign minister expressed the hope that the “magnificent gesture” will mark the beginning of closer relations between the two countries, “so that developing nations will work together for peace and happiness throughout the world.” MAJ. GEN. Ismael Lapuz (ret.) was appointed by the President as Philippine ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of China. His predecessor, Ambassador Pelayo F. Llamas, was recalled to the home office for reassignment. Immediately after signing the appointment, the President administered the oath of office to the new ambassador in the presence of a large gathering composed of close relatives and friends of the inductee at the Malacañang Reception Hall.
[5] Official Gazette for September 7, 1974: THE PRESIDENT hailed the P242 million Pantabangan Dam, biggest infrastructure in the Philippines, not only as an outstanding engineering feat but as a symbol of the total effort through many directions to improve the Filipino quality of life. In a speech read for him by Secretary of Agrarian Reform Conrado Estrella at the Pantabangan Dam inauguration in Nueva Ecija, the President pointed to the mammoth dam as a milestone in the people’s march toward growth and fulfillment by way of the “integrated approach.” Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor Jr., formally opened the two dome-shaped 10-meter diameter intake gates. Present at the rites were members of the Cabinet who included, aside from Secretaries Melchor and Estrella, Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata of Finance, Secretary Vicente Paterno of Industry, Secretary of Information Francisco S. Tatad, and Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, Nueva Ecija officials headed by Gov. Eduardo L. Joson and Russel J. Cheetham of the International Bank for Rec onstruction and Development. THE PRESIDENT broadened the scope of price control to include paper products used in the manufacture of socialized commodities. Affected by the President’s action are paper products used either as raw materials or for packaging and labeling such as, but not limited to, newsprint, bond paper, paper board, cardboard, carton, corrugated board, paneling materials and paper strips. In Letter of Instructions No. 212 issued to the Price Control Council, the President notes that the prices of paper products have unreasonably risen, increasing in the process the prices of controlled commodities that utilize these paper items. The President stressed that if the prices of these paper products are allowed to remain uncontrolled, low-income consumers of socialized commodities will suffer an intolerable burden.
[6] Official Gazette for September 8, 1974: FASTER and more effective agricultural services will be rendered to thousands of farmsteads throughout the country under a reorganized Department of Agriculture provided by Presidential Decree No. 547. This decree integrates an army of some 6,500 farm extension workers from four of the department’s five bureaus as well as from the Department of Agrarian Reform. In addition, it decentralizes the function of the Department of Agriculture among 11 department-wide regional directors. These regional directors shall integrate the implementation of the related field programs of the Bureaus of Soils, Plant Industry, Animal Industry and Agricultural Extension. The, fieldmen belonging to each of these bureaus are now directly responsible to the regional directors, who in turn report directly to the department secretary. This pattern supports the regional development concept of the President as carried out through PRODs and PRAOs (presidential regional officers for development or action officers), as well as through the regional development councils organized by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). EXECUTIVE Secretary Alejandro Melchor Jr., by order of the President, issued Proclamation No. 1300 proclaiming September 19 as Law Day. It was stressed that the administration of justice is indispensable to a sound and vigorous democracy. It was also pointed out that it is but fitting that the important role played by lawyers in the administration of justice and in enhancing the rule of law be duly brought to the attention of the people. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and lawyers’ associations were called upon to mark the day with appropriate ceremonies.