We are about six hours away from Tagbilaran. But I have ordered that we dock at 9:00 AM so that Imelda who arrives at that time by plane can be with me.
Last night I could not sleep up to 4:00 AM as the boat was pitching violently. So I woke up at 11:15 AM. I had an early breakfast, dictated to Tagnian[?] on “Violence in a Revolution,” “Leadership of a Revolution” and Communism and Socialism for my book. Had lunch at 1:15 PM with Mrs. Leonila Garcia and party, then dictated some more. Took a nap and exercised at the golf net, showered, had a massage, then back to work on the book. Dinner at 8:00 AM. Mrs. Garcia talked to me of her P2.5 million requirement for her campaign. And I frankly told her we did not have such fabulous sums for the campaign. I terrorized her about possible disqualification for over spending and gently reminded her that our party was committed to restrained expenses in political campaigns. Her daughter and Chairman [Mariano] Gaviola were present in the conversation.
At least I saved Imelda from her importunings about money.
The situation in Buldon, Cotabato is deteriorating. There are now 1,500 Muslims hold out against 700 of our men although our men are armed with 3 105 howitzers, 2 106 recoilless rifles, 3 4.2 Mortars, two APC’s [armored personnel carrier] (one of them disabled by an enemy mine) and M-79s. The Muslims have AK-47, Cal. 30 and Cal. 50 machine gun and rifles (M-1).
We have suffered KIA [killed in action]-7 and WIA [wounded in action]-17 the first including one officer.
Gov. [Simeon] Datumanong says the mayor of Buldon who is commanding the Muslims in the town, has informed him that he has lost control of the armed Muslims.
Official Gazette for August 10, 1971: Aboard RPS Ang Pangulo, enroute to Tagbilaran City, President Marcos read and worked on official papers most of the day as he sailed in occasionally rough sea on Tagbilaran, Bohol for the proclamation of the NP senatorial candidates.
Also on board were senatorial candidate Mrs. Leonila Garcia and party, including her daughter, Mrs. Linda G. Campos, SSS Chairman Ramon Gaviola, Tomas Toledo and Dr. Antonio Guytingco.
Before leaving for the South, the President instituted the Presidential Citation for Outstanding Humanitarian Services. The award was instituted to give due official cognizance and gratitude to Filipino citizens, resident foreigners and others who have rendered spontaneous, exemplary and conspicuous service in the areas of social
welfare, education, health and national defense undertaken by the government in times of urgent national need.
The award may also be conferred, on the authority of the President by the Executive Secretary and the Secretary of the Department which has initiated special operations in any of the areas mentioned above, during which the awardee rendered meritorious service and assistance. The Presidential Citation would be conferred in the form of gold, silver and bronze medals. The line of endeavor in which the awardee has rendered outstanding services would be distinguished thus: a blue ribbon for social welfare, green for education, white for health, and red for national defense.
Gen. [Domingo] Tutaan whom I contacted by radio in Davao City at 12:00 PM and reprimanded for leaving Cotabato with hostilities going on (he says he was called by Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile to report to him) says that Gov. Datumanong and Cong. [Salipada] Pendatun asked him last night to withdraw the soldiers from Buldon but that he refused.
I ordered Gen. [Eduardo] Garcia, chief of PC [Philippine Constabulary], to delay the projected attack by Col. Encarnacion against Buldon set for hrs. 0500 tomorrow and allow Sen. Mamintal Tamano and Madrigal Alonto, brother of Ex-Sen. Alonto, to negotiate a peaceful surrender of the Muslims who ambushed our men.
But I authorized Col. Encarnacion to fire his principal artillery pieces at Buldon without causing damage to life and property but to impress the Muslims with their fire power so they may negotiate a surrender.
I also ordered Col. Encarnacion to allow Gen. Cruz of the IV Brigade whom I ordered to Buldon with Gens. Garcia and [Rafael] Ileto, to make a military assessment of the situation and report to me directly.
I directed Gen. Tutaan to ask Gov. Datumanong and Cong. Pendatun to also negotiate a peaceful surrender.
We should not allow this incident to trigger a holy war. But we should also be firm about the Muslims who have ambushed our soldiers.