Have just finished proof reading the galley proof of my book on revolution.
We have just brought to Camp Aguinaldo for interrogation about 11 witnesses to the unbelievable leadership of Sen. Benigno Aquino [Jr.] in the organization funding and guidance of the communist party. A certain Gatmaitan who was the treasurer of the NPA [New People’s
Official Gazette for August 26, 1971: President Marcos presided over the meeting of the National Security Council, held at Camp Aguinaldo, to assess the internal security situation following the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. The meeting which lasted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., was also attended by chosen representatives of the Constitutional Convention.
Apart from a report of an attack by communist elements on two military helicopters in Isabela in the morning, no new major insurgent action was reported to the council. During the meeting, the President answered questions on the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus from the convention delegates, notably from the chairman of the committee on political and civil rights of the convention.
In this question and answer period, the President assured the delegates that the suspension of the privilege of the writ was a matter of necessity rather than of convenience; that it was a choice between national security and the safety of the population on one hand, and his personal popularity on the other: that the suspension would last as long as necessary, but not a minute longer.
The President also assured the delegates that no indiscriminate or mass arrests would be made under the suspension order; that arrests would be made only by authorized national police agencies and only after a long, careful and competent process involving an exhaustive evaluation of evidence by three impartial panels. The President emphasized that no arrest would be made under the suspension order without having gone through this process, and without having been finally approved in writing by the Secretary of National Defense.
In order to assure the public that arrests under the suspension order are limited to the crimes of rebellion, insurrection, and other crimes in furtherance or on the occassion thereof or incident thereto, or in connection therewith, the President directed the military to make public the names of persons detained under the suspension order. At the same time, the President issued Executive Order No. 333 creating a Presidential Administrative Assistance Committee, which would handle complaints arising from the suspension order.
Named to compose the committee were Justice Undersecretary Catalino Macaraig, Jr., as chairman, and Defense Undersecretary Efren Plana, and Romaldo B. Zaniora of the Executive Secretary’s Office, as members.
Present at the NSC meeting were: Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, House Majority Floorleader Marcelino Veloso and Rep. Constantino Navarro; Sen. Leonardo Perez; Secretaries Carlos P. Romulo of Foreign Affairs, Vicente Abad Santos of Justice, Juan Ponce Enrile of National Defense, Cesar E. A. Virata of Finance and Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad; Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Undersecretaries of National Defense Manuel Q. Salientes and Efren I. Plana, Solicitor General Felix Antonio, Chief State Prosecutor Emilio Gancayco, Chairman Vicente Paterno of the Board of Investments, Gen. Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; Maj. Gen. Romeo Espino, AFP vice chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Fidel Ramos, and the following delegates to the Constitutional Convention: Delegates Edmundo Cea, Gregorio Purugganan, Leocadio ignacio, Reynaldo Villar, Carlos Valdez, A. Pacificador, Cirilo R. Montejo, Mangu-tawan B. Guzo, Fidel Purisima, Antonio Olmedo, Jesus T. Garcia, Vicente dela Cerna, Leonardo Syguion-Reyna, Romuldo Mendiola, Magtanggol Gunigundo, and Alfredo Abueg.
In another move in connection with the writ suspension order, the President later in the afternoon ordered that public hearings be conducted also on charges against all other persons detained in connection with insurrection or rebellion. While attending to other state business, the President submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation the nominations of live foreign affairs department officers to Chiefs of Mission Class III. Nominated were Jose S Estrada, Julia L. Palarca, Rolando A. Garcia, Manuel A. Viray and Ireneo Cornista.
Army] in Tarlac and who issued orders for liquidation in the name of Commander Dante [Bernabe Buscayno] or probably of Sen. Aquino is ready to testify against Sen. Aquino. And so is a Ben Perez who brought such personalities as Jose Maria Sison and Arthur Garcia to the meeting place with Sen. Aquino where they discussed communist plans.
On TV, Sen. Aquino himself asked the question, “Why should he be a communist when he is well-to-do?”
And tonight [Daniel] Danny Vazquez tells the story over dinner of Piding [Alfredo] Montelibano [Sr.] who was approached by Sen. Aquino to join the violent revolution to overthrow the present government offering Piding’s son, Gov. Alfredo Montelibano [Jr.], the position of Vice President to his presidency. Aquino said we should overthrow the government as I would be in office for another eight years and he would be too old then.
Piding Montelibano, the old pragmatist, of course answered that first of all he would consider the proposition if his son were to become president and second all leaders of revolutions are engulfed by the revolution.
But this explains the obsession of rich Sen. Aquino with communism. He uses it as a vehicle for reaching political power.
The sworn statement of a certain Magsino has identified a certain Lyn Oreta, brother-in-law of Sen. Aquino as having bought grenades from a Major de Jesus of the Caloocan police through the intermediary of a Baby Manalaysay and Mrs. Costales wife of a sergeant in Camp Bonifacio.
But now Oreta, de Jesus and Baby Manalaysay cannot be located.
Magsino says that Oreta told him he was buying guns and grenades for Sen. Aquino.
And Oreta is 5 ft. 8 in. and fair and thin—the description of the tall grenade-thrower by the eye-witnesses.
At 1:15 AM today, an NPA force of 20-30 men attacked the Advance CP of Task Force Lawin at Echague with rifle fire and M-79 grenade launchers (the latter because of eleven grenades from an M-79 9 of which destroyed two Huey helicopters, four for one and five for the other).
This could have been done by Victor Corpus. And with the grenade launchers given by Aquino!