August 19, 1972

Saturday

Again a sore throat and a cold. I called a conference of doctors including Director [Gabriel] Carreon of the PGH, Dr. Yap, Dr. Canto (in the morning) and Dr. [Juanita] Zagala on why my resistance has gone down.

Probably the fact that my cholesterol has reduced to 176 and I am taking xyloprin as well as naturetin.

So I am going to start lessening my medicine intake and take in more liquids and have more exercise and rest.

I had to cancel my trip to the drought area in the south because of my cold and sore throat.

Awarded the Order of Kalantiao to Justice J. B. L. Reyes.

Met with the Ablans—warned them of the stories about them of smuggling and asked them to account for the planes used in the campaign of 1949.

The story spread that I was shot in Manila Golf Course this morning. Apparently the warning for me not to go out today was based on the knowledge of some attempt to be made.

But I sent Vice Pres. [Fernando] Lopez to the Q.C. [Quezon City] [Manuel] Quezon birthday celebration instead.

The indications are that the plot of assassination in which Larry Trackman, [Sergio] Serging Osmeña [Jr.] (the gunmen [two assassins (one claiming to be Tom Pacis)] already identified are using cars registered in his name) point to the Vice President as a co­conspirator or financier.

At 12:00-1:00 PM. I hammered out the agreement with the Greater Manila local executives to fund the Flood Control, Sewage, Health, Street Rehabilitation and Refuse Disposal program. ·

Dictated the order for the reassessment of the defense plans and AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] plans against subversion on the new assumption; that the CPP [Communist Party of the Philippines] and NPA [New People’s Army] have been able to smuggle in at least 2,000 M-14s, rockets and supplies (2) That they are being helped by Red China (3) that they can increase their armed strength to 10,000 (4) that they could present such a credible force they would be supported by a substantial portion of the civilian population and by other foreign governments. I attach copy of the order.

The reports today indicate the new 60 inch pipe of Nawasa [National Water and Sewerage Authority] in San Juan was blasted by explosives and in a firefight in an ambush on Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] troops an M-14 of Serial No. beginning with 620 and type similar to those captured in Palanan, Isabela was captured in Marikina Heights.

These shows [sic] the Urban Guerrillas have the firearms and are already operating in Manila.

So I have to prepare for their activities.

12:55 PM August 20, 1972[1]

Sunday

Parity rights end in 1974. Public agricultural lands sold to Americans must escheat in that year. Sales of private agricultural land are void. So decided the Supreme Court Chief Justice J. B. L. Reyes yesterday. The government won its case in the case filed by William ______.

Quezon City has no water supply because of the bombing of the new 60 inch main pipe of the NAWASA [National Water and Sewerage Authority].

And the Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] car that was ambushed in the Marikina Heights firefight early yesterday morning had a smashed front and rear glass and bullet holes in the body.

And there is growing apprehension in the Greater Manila area.

I enclose the metropolitan papers in Envelope No. XXXIV-H.

The Liberals led by [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] are crying out for a share of publicity in the Relief and Rehabilitation by pettily demanding an accounting of the relief goods distribution. I have called this petty and appealed for more maturity in the face of crisis.

Today I directed the Disaster Control Committee headed by Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile and Executive Secretary to render an account of the relief goods distribution.

And the Senators are back to the good old political game of bickering. They have passed the Calamity bill but there are no funds for it as they have not passed the new tax laws.

Yesterday 79 officers and men of the PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion] and PSU [Presidential Security Unit] graduated from the Jungle Warfare and Mountain Operations (a 45 day course in the Second Brigade area at Tanay, Rizal). One of my close-in-security a narrow shouldered thin sergeant ______ topped the class.

I am glad that the PGB and PSU are improving on their capabilities. I wrote a congratulatory message on them from the golf course.

Worked on the updating of the contingency plans on the basis of the new assumptions—marking out the possible targets of sabotage and kidnapping or assassination of the NPA’s [New People’s Army].

And counteraction immediate and long run.

Met Danny [Daniel] and Ising [Maria Luisa] Madrigal Vasquez who are trying to get a proper accounting and partition of the Madrigal properties valued variously at one billion to two billion pesos. The brothers and sisters are publicly quarreling about their shares.

The two brothers, Tony [Antonio] and Belek (Jose) who were given management of the Madrigal properties, apparently took advantage of the situation and invested some of the cash in their own names thus leaving only a part to the estate.

Now Danny and Ising threaten to inform on them for tax evasion.

I called the attention of our children to this sad spectacle and never to follow their example. “Otherwise I will rise from the grave and haunt them.”

8:20 PM August 21, 1972[2]

Monday

We are waiting for Danny [Daniel] and Ising [Maria Luisa] Madrigal so that they can meet with Tony [Antonio], Belek [Jose], Chito [Consuelo] and Macaria, Ising’s brothers and sisters. We are trying to amicably settle their quarrel about their property.

Usually in family quarrels of this nature the peace makers get hurt but since they are our friends we are taking this risk.

Premier Chiang Ching Kuo sent Mr. Yang Hsi-Kun Deputy Foreign Minister with a message and letter with the request for me to intervene with Japan and the United States to delay or stop the normalization of relations of Japan with Red China.

I attach the letter and copies of my answer to him and the cablegrams to Amb. [Eduardo] Romualdez in Washington and Amb. [Roberto] Benedicto in Tokyo.

It is to our interest that Taiwan remain a buffer between the Philippines and the mainland. But at the same time we cannot close our eyes to the need for peace between Japan and Red China. War between them would embroil us.

The established fact that Red China seems to be helping the local communists and may continue to do so may require a reassessment of our defense and foreign policies.

We may have to keep on depending more and more on the United States. And we may have to postpone the diplomatic relations of the Philippines with Red China or even Russia.

Thus the continuance of the Military Bases Agreement.

The reports of submarines landing personnel and arms in the Divinisa, Palanan area makes me cautious about cutting our ties with the United States.

For the next two decades we will not be able to defend ourselves against Red China or Japan.

And anyway for a self-reliant defense posture we need military assistance from the United States whether on the basis of outright aid or sales.

Manila Times, Chronicle, Bulletin and The Philippines Herald among other media are still trying to make the Plaza Miranda grenade incident that was the principal cause for the victory (from sheer pity felt by the electorate for the Liberal’s senatorial candidates) of the Liberals last year, a rallying cause against the administration.

It is obvious that the Liberals are making use of the newspapers and the radicals. Or rather it is a question as to who is using who.

But only 3,000 attended the rally at Plaza Miranda and there have been no incidents.

I enclose in Envelope XXXIV-I the newspaper today.

9:00 PM August 22, 1972[3]

Tuesday

I have directed the Sec. of Justice with the Solicitor General to anal[y]ze the Supreme Court decisions on Parity and ownership of public and private agricultural land. To stop speculations and possible misunderstanding I wrote the Secretary the guidelines that his recommendations be submitted to the cabinet meeting set for next Thursday, the 24th, be based on:

Prevent harassment by confiscation of property without just compensation.

Stop harassment and persecution by misinterpretation of the decision.

Prevent any anomalies like extortions arising out of alleged enforcement of the decision.

And to recommend both administrative and legislative actions.

I attach copy of the handwritten order.

The business community is in a state of ferment and clearly agitated by the possibility of American capital pulling out. I do not believe it will.

Now that the rules of the game are clear, there will be less uncertainty.

Went by helicopter to the Bulacan area to inspect the destruction of the dikes that have blocked the rivers and partially caused the floods. Brought Sec. [David] Consunji and Director [Alejandro] Deleña. Picked up Eng. [Jose] Regalado and assistant as well as Gov. [Ignacio] Santiago in Malolos.

Left at 11:00 AM and returned at 12:30 AM.

Also inspected the 2,000 hectare Bulacan Communal Fishing grounds 500 hectares of which have been squatted upon by big fishpond owners either blocking the rivers or narrowing the river beds so as to add to the floods.

Saw Wawa Capiz the dikes across which I blasted on June 22, 1967 which still remains as narrow as ever.

Most of these dikes and fishponds are protected by injunctions issued by Courts of First Instance. This is the principal deterrent to the removal of the offending fishponds.

I am almost certain these judges are in the pay of the rich fishpond owners.

On my instructions the Sec. of Justice has threatened the filing of administrative cases against them.

It is obvious The Manila Times is trying to build up Sen. Jose Diokno as a presidential candidate. The Times today estimated the 3,000 Plaza Miranda crowd on the Aug. 21st Plaza Miranda rally as 15,000, as usual bloating the figures for a purpose.

And the cry was against the increasing militarization under the Marcos administration.

Not much impact. The citizenry lazily noted their rally but did not give it much more attention.

I enclose the newspapers of today in Envelope No. XXXIV-J.

The Senate, as usual, is moving at a snail’s pace and has not approved a single tax measure.

11:30 PM August 23, 1972[4]

Wednesday

Met Foreign Minister Kim Yong Shih of Korea who is here as the guest of Sec. [Carlos] Romulo and who is apparently here to ask Sec. Romulo to help prevent the Korea issue to be brought up by the North Koreans in the UN [United Nations]. My feeling is that he thinks Sec. Romulo makes the decisions in foreign policy. I did not dissuade him from this mistaken belief.

Awarded him the Ancient Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu.

Directed Com. [Misael] Vera and Dep. Com. [Conrado] Diaz to recognize the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue]; change assignments, met Specific Tax Div. Chief Guining which has an increase of P72 million this year—an increase of 50% of rate of increase from 8% last year to 12% this year. Asked him to give his deputy, Jose Salindong more responsibilities.

Then met the senators and congressmen. Next week I will release P100,000 to each congressional district.

Sen. [Arturo] Tolentino has just called my directive to Sec. of Justice and Sol. Gen. to see to it that there is no confiscation without fair compensation untimely and improper. Because of his bill on escheat of American property rights.

I do not wish to quarrel with him. So I merely commented that the study by the Sec. of Justice must be objective and include all aspects including those that must be brought to the attention of the court on a motion for reconsideration—whether adverse to the government or not.

I ordered the BOI [Board of Investments], PBG [Philippine Business Groups?], NEC [National Economic Council] and Ex. Sec. to study the effects on business and the economy of the decision—and make a listing of all persons affected.

The Intelligence Chief of Rizal was felled by three unknown persons the other day.

The floods do not seem to recede so we cannot wait for the Central Plains to dry up before repairing the roads and dikes.

I have ordered that the Dept. of Public Works adopt techniques of reconstruction in the water.

Amb. [Roberto] Benedicto called up to say that he is signing the purchase of 100,000 tons of rice from Japan: 30 years amortization, 10 years grace, 2% the first 10 years and 3 percent the next 20 years.

The Japanese are also agreeable to convert the current commodity loan agreement term of Cagayan Electrification of P40 M and P11 M to flood control.

And Amb. [Eduardo] Romualdez telexed that the US will not intervene in the Japanese normalization of relations with Red China.

Looks like the Nationalist Chinese are lost. Although Japan should also be interested in keeping her at least as an independent state.

The United States, apparently, is going to leave Japan to pull her chestnuts out of the fire.

I attach the papers on this in Envelope XXXIV-K and the orders in XXXIV-L.

The newspapers are in Envelope XXXIV-M.

12:00 PM August 24, 1972[5]

Thursday

Golf up to 10:00 AM.

11:00 AM—Credentials Presentation of Israel Ambassador Daniel Laor

11:30—Postponed interview by Mr. Tillman Durdin of New York Times to 5:00 PM because of cabinet meeting.

11:45 AM-1:00 PM—Cabinet meeting

Report of Sec. Vicente Abad Santos of Legal Committee on Parity Division and Sec. A. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] in working on economic effects of decision found in Envelope XXXIV-N.

Solicitor General to maintain original stand on motion for reconsideration.

The Filipino way is a fair and equitable way to treat American owned real estate.

Studies have been made since 1966 and we have always maintained that rights arising out of parity are coterminous with parity in July 3, 1974.

This position was sustained in the Supreme Court decision.

8:45 PM August 25, 1972[6]

Friday

The children have a party for 20 with Kimpura food at [Bahay] Pangarap. Imelda is with them and I am alone at the State Dining Room watching the movie Eye of the Hurricane while writing my diary. (Imelda just arrived)

Just finished all the paperwork that has piled up with the urgency of the calamity and with the third congressional special session about to end on the 1st of September. We have to prepare some compromise bills in a hurry—on public works to include reconstruction and the authority to borrow, tariff, tax on cigarettes, removal of exemptions and subsidies, amendment of the special highway fund law etc.

This morning I inspected the cementing at Mendiola, Avenida Rizal, J. Abad Santos and M. H. del Pilar—after golf where I scored one under par.

At 12:30 AM [sic] I met Director [Jolly] Bugarin of the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation], Cong. [Eduardo] Cojuangco [Jr.] and Adrian Cristobal.

Col. Bugarin reported the results of the investigations on CAA [Civil Aeronautics Administration] illegal contracts (The Contact contracts for teletype machines: Overpriced and second hand); no witnesses on the Cueto killing by Yabut’s police; the dollars confiscated in the airport should be forfeited; in drugs there is raw intelligence connecting Cong. [Gaudencio] Beduya, [Herminio] Teves and ______ to a heroin refining center in this area. I directed continued surveillance and investigation.

Cong. Cojuangco came to inform me of his success in getting a contract for 40,000 tons of rice from Red China, bartered for cement. I am encouraging barter for rice from Red China so that we do not spend any of our much needed dollars.

Adrian Cristobal came to show me a paper on the ideology of the Free Farmers Federation and their ideologues, the Lakasdiwa headed by former seminarian Ed Garcia (they call father).

Looks sophomoric. But attacks both Maosism and capitalism. And can be used as a basis for study for an acceptable ideology and a program of government.

I place it in Envelope No. XXXIV-O.

This afternoon I met with the congressional leaders, Sen. Pres. [Gil] Puyat, Senate Floor Leader [Arturo] Tolentino, Sen. [Lorenzo] Teves, Acting Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee Speaker [Cornelio] Villareal and House Floor Leader Marcelino Veloso. The Senate wants to adjourn after the Tariff and Customs Code and the tax on cigarettes is approved—to meet in the regular session next January. The House wants the Public Works bill, the amendment of RA [Republic Act] 917 at least approved also before adjournment. We are trying to get them to continue working for at least a week more. Specially since there is no money for the calamity appropriations and no authority for borrowing abroad. The Foreign Borrowing Act. RA 6142 limits me to borrowing for projects provided for by law (specially the public works act) and no existing public works act authorizes the reconstruction projects nor some of the on-going projects—ergo we cannot borrow for them.

Thus, there would be no money or cash for the Reconstruction or Rehabilitation Program.

And Congress which is supposed to be controlled by our party would be open to the charge of indolence and impotence to meet the crisis occasioned by the floods.

The rest of the world is helping to rehabilitate us. But Congress wants to adjourn and go junketing abroad—the UN [United Nations], the APU, and conferences that are convenient excuses for a visit to the flesh pots of America and Europe.

11:05 PM August 26, 1972[7]

Saturday

We are at [Bahay] Pangarap which has been tastefully decorated by Imee with Japanese dolls, paintings, frame paper partitions and scrolls, Imari jars, vases, plates and painted screens to make it look like a Japanese house, watching the opening ceremonies of the XX Olympiad at Munich brought live in color by Television 9, KBS [Kanlaon Broadcasting System], via satellite (Philcomsat [Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation]). There are about 12,000 delegates (9,000 athletes) of 124 participating countries.

Impressive. The USSR [Union of Soviet Socialist Republics] has 1,032 delegates, the biggest delegation to the XX Olympiad. The US has 900 delegates.

Germany has prepared for this since 1969.

Our delegation is small—78 with about 50 athletes. [Salvador] Del Rosario, flyweight weightlifter who holds the world record in the clean and jerk jointly with a Russian has the best chance to win a gold medal. Our boxers and wrestlers and judoists may have a chance to win medals. The others have none.

South Vietnam has only three delegates.

Spent the morning traveling by helicopter around Laguna de Bay where the water does not seem to have receded as the Napindan River is too shallow and narrow to drain it fast enough. It may be necessary to cut a canal to Manila Bay via Zapote or widen Napindan River or both.

And the Southwest wind drives the waters up to the northeast preventing its flow down to the south through the Pasig River.

Then we flew around the Tanay, Teresa area ending up in Marikina behind the UP [University of the Philippines] and Capitol Golf Club—at the 4 hectare factory site of Roga Marble which may be the biggest marble company (of five) in the Philippines now.

We must develop marble into a major export product—perhaps in lieu of wood or logs. For its extraction may not affect the ecology as logging does.

Gen. [Eulogio] Balao and Luis Tabuena have joined up to obtain marble machinery from reparations, bought about two hectares of marble mines—beige and off white in San Ildefonso, Bulacan to establish the Roga with the help of Eng. Rosello Gabriel, formerly a partner and Gen. Manager of the Philippine Marblecraft of Taylor.

I brought in Rudy Martel who has about options to 500 hectares of black and other color marble deposits in Tanay and Teresa, Rizal, as well as extensive claims in Palawan and Mati, Davao Oriental. He will now organize a big marble factory with Luis Tabuena and Gen. Balao. This before the big rush which is expected.

Every island of the Philippines is supposed to have marble deposits.

Then lunch and a movie at the State Dining Room with Imelda, Bongbong and Irene as well as the family of Rudy and Alita. Until 3:00 PM.

Bongbong and I tried out some weightlifting at his room where his barbells are.

Haircut. Slept till 4:30 PM. Worked with Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] and Eng. [Antonio] Locsin of PES [Presidential Economic Staff] on the amendments to the Public Works bill.

Then golf with [Angel] Angie Limjoco [Jr.] above 5:15 to 6:30 PM. Several birdies from outside the green.

The weightlifting this afternoon strained my biceps and triceps a little.

And I ate too much tempura.

10:30 PM August 27, 1972[8]

Sunday

I just talked to Kokoy [Benjamin] Romunldez at Washington on the cablegram report of Ambassador Eduardo Romualdez on his talks to Marshall Green, the State Department man of the Far East on the reported Japanese plan to recognize Red China, in which conversation Marshall Green “bluntly told us that the Philippine government has overestimated the aid extended by the Chinese (Red) government and the Chinese community in the Philippines to the local communists.”

The U.S. State Department has a consistent record of error in the assessment of Asian situations and judging Red Chinese intentions. It is preposterous, therefore, for them to lecture to us on their estimate of the threat we face from the local communists.

And apparently, they are at it again in the Philippines.

Perhaps, the U.S. Embassy here is most to blame. For I think the Ambassador and his staff, the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] man, Canaris, have finished as of last year a report on the Isabela situation concluding that the NPA [New People’s Army] operates out of the pocket of [Jose Maria] Sison and [Victor] Corpus? And does not pose a serious threat—numbering less than 100.

How stupid can they get?

And after we, in the government, had traced the interlocking of the front organizations in the cities like Manila (like KM [Kabataang Makabayan]) with the NPA, the CIA man, Canaris, offered to spend good money on the question of whether there were any connections at all between the front organizations and the NPA.

If the NPA has no funds except those from the pockets of their leaders, where did they get the P5 million that was used, according to the captured NPA, in the purchase of the SS [Single-screw Steampship] Karagatan and the about 2,000 M-14 rifles, ammo, rockets, communications equipment, clothing and food.

And why is there an increase in their number, so much so that in most engagements in Isabela, our boys were outnumbered, contrary to the basic principles of guerrilla warfare.

The NPA is spreading to the Bicol, Samar, Leyte, Panay Island, Negros, Mindanao and even Sulu.

And the KM’s are proliferating in greater strides.

What about the Supreme Court decision. Are the Americans saying that the justices are incompetent? Like all of us, supposedly?

Then the ambush in Marikina of a Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] car which resulted in the capture of an M-14 with serial number beginning with 620 like the M-14’s captured in Digoyo, Palanan.

So I have asked Gov. Romualdez to ask our friends like Gen. [Donald] Blackburn and [Napoleon] Poling Valeriano to put things right in the lower levels.

And to send word to the cabinet level and National Security Council level that I feel that we are being misused.

Anyway I was so exercised by the reported ex cathedra statement of Marshall Green that I asked for the clarification of the intention and purpose as well as the surrounding circumstances of the statement.

But that is the U.S.

This reminds me of the assessment of the 1970 situation in U.S. News and World Report (Feb. 23, 1970, p. 54—Worldgram)—“Add this to Asia’s troubles: Filipinos are on the brink of a peaceful or a bloody revolution. Change must come quickly. Everyone agrees on that.

Filipinos have lost confidence in their political leaders. The treasury is virtually empty, exports are lethargic, the peso is weak and corruption is rampant. The gulf between the very rich and the very poor is widening.

Is the U.S. to blame for this crisis? Not at all. Yet it could end up in the middle. Filipinos who respect Americans are asking what the U.S. will do: Stand behind the legal Government, or with those who demand reform?”

This is one of the most preposterous, false and misleading statements I have read.

It is a restatement of the position of the political opposition—of the irresponsible press of [Joaquin] Chino Roces who went to the extent of demanding my resignation which started in Jan.

26, 1970.

Incidentally our exports increased by 21% in that year 1970!

And the magazine suggests intervention by the U.S. government in our internal affairs very casually.

I attach the magazine in Envelope No. XXXIV-P.

After golf this morning, I laid a wreath at the Unknown Soldier’s Tomb on the occasion of National Heroes Day.

“Anonymity in Heroism” was my theme.

Then worked on the problems tomorrow.

Parity and the Sup. Ct. [Supreme Court] Decision is still the top news.

But whatever may be done, we must be fair and equitable in dealing with the Americans.

11:15 PM August 28, 1972[9]

Monday

The Bulletin (alone) carried a story of the “Ang Bayan” the Communist paper’s editorial charging “an alleged plot of the U.S.-Marcos clique” to undertake senseless bombings and shootouts and to disrupt public meetings of both the Nacionalista and Liberal parties during the electoral campaign period of 1973, farther quoting the communist paper as saying these activities were in preparation for a proclamation of martial law.

What about the front organizations, the demonstrations, the open call to a revolution, the attacks on the Armed Forces in Isabela, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Cam. [Camarines] Sur, Sorsogon, Samar, Leyte, Iloilo, Capiz, Mindanao, etc.

The communists are schizophrenic. They do not know what they want.

Sen. [Daniel] Inouye of Hawaii, an old friend is here. He is chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign aid which he says is not too popular right now.

I briefed him on the State Department and U.S. Embassy attempt to understate the threat posed by Communism to the Philippines.

And gave him luncheon.

Prime Minister Dr. Helmut Kohl of Rheinland-Pfalz of the Federated State of Germany paid a courtesy call on me. He is descended from the Electors of the Rheinland Palatinate and Vice Chairman of the Social Democrats Union.

I felt he is a politician, not a statesman.

Worked out with Bongbong’s barbells this morning.

10:15 PM August 29, 1972[10]

Tuesday

Started golf at 6:00 AM for the first time in years. Feels fresh and cool in the early morning. And no rain.

This afternoon we finalized:

The target personalities and teams assigned.

Critique of the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus implementation. Its deficiencies, errors, failures, changes.

Potential enemies in the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines].

The units available, their capabilities.

Planned target date.

Gen. [Ignacio] Paz, J-2 [Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence] was with us, Danding [Eduardo] Cojuangco [Jr.], Tom [Tomas] Diaz, Romy [Romeo] Gatan, Gen. [Fabian] Ver and Johnny [Juan] Ponce Enrile.

We must bring in Gens. [Romeo] Espino and [Fidel] Ramos now.

This morning an interview by Don [Moran?] Asst. Editor of the Asia Magazine.

“We as a people have no discipline. We have not yet matured. We are still playing at everything. We are playing at revolution and with democracy.

“We will have to grow up soon.”

Speaker [Cornelio] Villareal.

Mel [Ismael] Mathay [Jr.] on [Felipe] Baby Ysmael properties.

The Constitutional Convention through Dr. Guimo de Vega and Dulce ______.

Approved the NEC [National Economic Council] recommended partial list of the 17th year schedule after studies by Gen. [Eulogio] Balao and Chairman [Anacleto] Mangaser.

Asked Gen. Ramos to change Gen. Navarro with Gen. [Tranquilino] Paranis as 2nd PC [Philippine Constabulary] Zone Co., Romy Gatan as Rizal Provincial Commander, Col. Espino as Saranay Task Force Commander.

Change Gen. [Wilfredo] Encarnacion as IV PC Zone Co. and place a Task Force Commander for Task Force Pagkakaisa.

Issued the directive to Mayor [Ramon] Bagatsing to go ahead and remove the permanent structures blocking the esteros.

10:40 PM August 30, 1972[11]

Wednesday

Prepared the specific areas for clarification to be sought from the Supreme Court by the Solicitor Gen. like just compensation and no confiscation.

Imelda could not go to Leyte with the children as there is a low pressure area off Samar and it has been raining in Tacloban since last night. Weather deteriorating.

Right now it is raining here. Started raining since this morning at 9:00 AM—and up to now.

And I had a rise of my blood pressure because of lack of sleep. Slept from 11:00 PM to 2:30 AM then a snatch of sleep of about 30 minutes. So I felt tired this morning.

Had to take Librium 10 at noon to sleep after the doctors ([Juanita] Zagala, Huang, [Pacifico] Yap, [Paciencia] Disini in that order) saw me and Imelda fed me a light lunch in bed. Slept up to 4:20 PM.

Then talked to Sen. [Leonardo] Perez. Bert [Roberto] Sabido on the help Georgia-Pacific, the biggest wood company and plywood buyer in the U.S., could give our wood processors.

Had a splitting headache. Had to see my dentist at the PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion] clinic (Dr. Primo Gonzales) to have some fillings changed.

Then Dr. [Ariston] Bautista on my nose congestion.

Ordered rice to be procured by barter so that we do not spend any of our badly needed funds. (Barter is allowable only with countries we do not have diplomatic relations with—Red China for one)

Danding [Eduardo] Cojuangco [Jr.] seems to be the only one who can get Red China rice.

And the brown rice from the U.S. to be milled and bagged at the Free Trade Zone.

Mayor Layaoan was here. He is the man who was tortured and beaten up in the Nalundasan case but refused to be used as a witness against me. Now he is vice mayor of Bangui. And I am helping him all I can.

The tariff amendments may be approved by the Senate tonight.

6:20 PM August 31, 1972[12]

Thursday

The doctors advise rest and no work for some time. Even Dr. Tamesis, my optometrist, also recommends no reading for long stretches of time.

Am calling the Congress to a fourth Special Session beginning midnight tonight, in as much they have not approved any of the urgent bill needed for reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Directed Gen. [Tranquilino] Paranis of Task Force Saranay to prepare for any eventuality, including possible training in Isabela of 2,500 NPA’s [New People’s Army] for use for attack on Manila and a total of 10,000 NPA’s for the whole country.

Counteraction and infiltration must be worked out.

Kokoy [Benjamin] Romualdez arrived from the U.S. He reports the bankers and big businessmen of the U.S. are exercised about the Supreme Court decision on parity and real estate ownership. They asked to meet him in New York. And kept blaming me in their deprival of real estate. But he told them a few facts of life—that they were warned about the impending decision some time ago but they did not do anything about the time bomb, that the only one who could help them was the President of the Philippines; but that the President of the Philippines was less interested in their property than in the security of the Philippines and its people which was threatened by the communists and they have not helped on this danger that haunts the President; on the contrary they have belittled his fears and not extended arms and sympathy to fight the communists.

So the business and even the White House are sending two delegations to see the situation and me.