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
Official Gazette for August 22, 1972: THE PRESIDENT conducted an hour-long aerial survey of the communal fishing grounds and rivers in Bulacan and Pampanga.
In Hagonoy, the President; saw public works men dismantling illegally constructed fishpond dikes within the communal fishing grounds.
In the course of the survey, the President reiterated his order to the Department of Public Works and Communications to tear down all illegally constructed fishpond dikes in Bulacan, as well as to stop the construction of dikes in the province which appeared to have been started on the onset of the floods that devastated Central Luzon.
The President also directed the public works department to clear the Labangan Channel as soon as possible. The President had ordered the release of P10 million for the purpose.
With the President in conducting the survey were Public Works and Communications Secretary David M. Consunji, Public Works Director Alejandro Deleña, Bulacan Governor Ignacio Santiago, Provincial District Engineer Jose Regalado and other provincial officials.
While attending to desk work in the afternoon, the President, among others directed Justice Secretary Vicente Abad Santos and Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza to analyze the Supreme Court decision on parity rights and to submit their recommendations.
The President said that measures be promptly adopted to avert the possible commission of abuse in the enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling by public officials.
[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.