Just played golf with Bobby [Roberto Benedicto] and massage. Then a briefing by Col. [Fabian] Ver on the [Eleuterio] Adevoso plot on a coup d’etat. All team leaders for the kidnapping or assassination of [Ernesto] Maceda, [Vicente] Raval, [Roque] Ablan [Jr.], [Floro] Crisologo identified. But that for me as yet remains unknown to our asset Col. Jose Maristela. Adevoso may be replaced by Gen. [George] Sanchez as the leader of the operation. And there will be a big nation-wide rally on June 19th where they will have killer, looter and stealer as well as arson groups. Loot will be distributed to the squatters in Tondo.
Official Gazette for April 9, 1970: President Marcos expressed confidence that the nation’s problems can be successfully solved and progress attained if the people remained united. In a speech highlighting the ceremonies marking the fall of Bataan held at the Dambana ng Kagitingan shrine on Mt. Samat in Bataan, the President said that if the nation can set aside internal conflict, the people shall overcome every difficulty. Emphasizing the timeless values which forged the spirit of Bataan, the President said that on his visits to the provinces, he has found the same spirit arising from cherished Filipino values still alive among the people. “These values,” he said, “are those which give a man dignity, freedom, the right of self-determination, the sense of national community.” The veterans of Bataan are “still united today in faith and loyalty to the same ideals which carried them to battle,” he said, and Filipinos follow gratefully in the path of the soldiers of Bataan. “For men who cherish freedom, these values indeed are timeless,” the President said, adding that they “cannot disintegrate or change even against the onslaught of alien ideologies, nor could these values be destroyed by self-interest, greed, the lust for power.” [Full text omitted in this footnote]
The President led the observance of Bataan Day at Mt. Samat, scene of the last organized resistance to the enemy hordes. Accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, and all three of their children, the President left Manila shortly after welcoming UN Secretary General U Thant, who arrived early in the morning, and will be a state guest during his stay here.
Crossing to Bataan by boat, the President and party then motored up the slope of Mt. Samat to its peak, where the Dambana ng Kagitingan, the national shrine to the heroes of Bataan, has been built. In a speech highlighting the rites at the shrine, the President called for firm national unity in order to move development forward, saying that every obstacle may be overcome by concerted and dedicated effort by the people in the spirit of the men of Bataan who turned defeat to victory.
Returning to Manila early in the afternoon, the President went straight to a conference with labor leaders and government officials concerned, to continue the talks on the proposed minimum wage and thresh out other problems affecting workers. Present at the conference were Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Secretary of Labor Blas F. Ople, Labor Undersecretary Raoul Inocentes, Labor Relations Director Amado Inciong, PES Deputy Director General Apolinario Orosa, Director Tito Mijares of Census and Statistics; Roberto Oca of the Pinagbuklod ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Juan Tan of FFW, Eulogio Lerum of NLU, Jose H. Hernandez of PTUC, Antonio Diaz of ULO, Fortunato Biangco of PALEA, Israel Bocobo of PAFLU, Henry Santos of PCWF, Amorito Cañete of ALU, Clemencio Leaño of PLUM, Vicente Arniego of PTUC, Temostecles Dizon of UOEF, and Pelagio Villegas, Jr. of FDW.
After the drawn-out conference which lasted well past 8 p.m., the President rested briefly, then worked on the state matters at his study.
But what surprised our asset was that Jimmy Propongco brought him to the VIP Bldg. where the others—[Juan] Daza, Sanchez, etc. except Adevoso were and in a few minutes [Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.] came into the room and asked to be briefed on the progress of the respective conspirators. Osmeña is quoted as saying that [Henry] Byroade is sympathetic. [Jovito] Salonga is supposed to be in the know.
This places a new and dangerous aspect to the plot. Because for the first time, Osmeña is confirmed as the mastermind and the financier of the plot. We must know the men assigned to assassinate me. And the other participants of the plot. But we must be quiet until it is necessary to move.
Went to Bataan by 777 after receiving the UN [United Nations] Secretary General [U Thant] at 7:00 AM. He stays with us as our official guest. Returned at 1:00 PM to arrive at 4:30 PM.
Met labor leaders on the minimum wage at 5:00 PM. Will meet the chamber leaders tomorrow morning. Then a joint meeting of the congressional leaders and labor leaders on Monday with me.