Imelda and I have decided to file libel cases against the magazines and newspapers that have been libeling us. The straw that broke the camel’s back was a nasty letter to Bongbong calling him a future thief and asking what kind of a crook is your daddy attaching a Weekly Nation cartoon apparently of me kneeling down praying “Dear Lord, I have 145 million dollars stashed away abroad, I own 223 corporations, properties at home. Just another year I swear, I’ll quit, Amen.” And a list of the Chronicle cartoons.
A legal question that may arise is: “Can I waive the presidential cloak of immunity against services of legal process since this immunity of and for the public interest?” This was raised by Senate Majority Leader Arturo Tolentino when I asked him what he thought of the libel cases which I intended to file.
He had come to see me at my suggestion to Sen. Mamintal Tamano, to assure me that his
Official Gazette for April 19, 1971: President Marcos received a number of officials and prominent business leaders in one of his most crowded days in recent weeks. He also inducted into office the new officers of the Philippine Historical Association. During the call of the group, the President was presented with a compilation of the writings of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the president of the First Philippine Republic and other historical documents authored by the revolutionary leader. Inducted by the President were Dr. Gregorio V. Zaide, president; Jose Ma. Aruego, vice president: Col. Crisanto Alba, secretary; Dr. Ricardo Arcilla, treasurer; and Dr. Sixto Orosa, Dr. Pedro GageIonia, Prof. Celedonio Ancheta, Prof. Celedonio Resurreccion and Prof. Gabriel Isabella, board directors.
The President was also presented a book written by Rev. Richard Wurmbrand, the Rumanian evangelical pastor who defied the ban of the communist regime of that country against religious services and was imprisoned and tortured. The book, titled “Tortured for Christ,” is an account of the years spent by the minister in prison. It was presented by Roy Alvarez. Later in the morning, the President received Tristan Beplat, senior vice president of the Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co., who paid a courtesy call. Accompanying the visitor were Central Bank Gov. Gregorio S. Licaros, C. E. Harkness and George B. Colins, chief and deputy representatives, respectively, of the firm.
Also at Malacañang in the morning to pay his respects was ECAFE Executive Secretary U Nyun, who was accompanied by Secretary of Commerce and Industry Ernesto Maceda. The ECAFE official arrived for the 10-day meeting of the organization. Among other callers was Demetrio Tabije, assistant general manager of the Philippine Tobacco Association.
In-between these calls, the President attended to his desk work. He issued a memorandum to RCA Chairman Jose Drilon, Jr. directing him to break up a syndicate of RCA officials and employees reportedly trafficking in rice, and which had been seen as responsible for an estimated shortage of some 5.1 million cavans of RCA rice. According to reports received by the President, this syndicate, which was said I to have been operating since the administration of former President Macapagal, withdraws rice from RCA warehouses by using one invoice over and over.
“I received these reports from a reliable party who has promised to help the RCA weed out undesirable elements in the agency,” the President told Agriculture Undersecretary Drilon, the concurrent RCA chairman.
“You are hereby directed to take immediate steps to break up this. syndicate and to stop its operations within one week.” The President added: “Considering your knowledge of RCA operations, I do not anticipate any difficulty in your accomplishing this task.” He also called Drilon’s attention to reports that most of the rice dealers in Mindanao who had not paid their debts to the RCA are Filipino-Chinese. The President directed that steps be taken to enforce collection of these unpaid debts.
election to the Senate Presidency would not prejudice me notwithstanding what the newspapers say about an anti-Marcos manifesto and move to be demonstrated by the removal of Puyat as Senate President.
Turing Tolentino asked me not to intervene as it would be useless for anyone to campaign at all if I did.
I told him I would consult with the other Nacionalista senators.
But as I see it, libel cases are the only ways in which I can redeem my good name in view of the viciousness of the newspapers. They have not attempted to cloak their lies with alleged reporting or journalistic candor. The stories have been concocted and they have been printed for one purpose only—to maliciously degrade and demean my reputation.
So, tomorrow I have to work on the cases.
I cannot delay the filing as the crime may prescribe.
Bongbong arrived in London at 4:30 PM Manila time and as of now is on a tour of the schools of Irene and Imee at Hastings and Mayfield. They will be back at the Claridges at 6:00 PM London time or 1:00 AM tomorrow, Manila time.
The palace is quiet and haunted without the children.
Worked on the PAL and Air Manila conflict of international routes. Saw Rafael Ygoa and [Benigno] Benny Toda [Jr.]; later I talked to [Ricardo] Carding Silverio (after golf with Ricky Cu-Unjieng and [Geronimo] Ronnie Velasco).
Met Sen. [Dominador] Aytona and Joselito Jacinto on the IISMI [Iligan Integrated Steel Mills Inc.] case. Apparently they have been told of the plan of DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines] to foreclose.