Sunday
The Herald and the Bulletin today headline my declared intention to dismantle the Communist apparatus in the Philippines.
The declaration was contained in the speech. I delivered before the Lion’s International District 301-C yesterday morning.
I attach the newspapers.
Today I followed the same vein of thought in the wreath-laying ceremonies at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani at 8:00 AM.
I attach copy of prepared text.
I also met at Camp Bonifacio the Chief of CIS [Criminal Investigation Service], Col. [Prospero] Olivas and the head of the legal officers handling the evidence on the arrested men, Col. Nananiego on the nature of the studies going on.
So did I meet Gen. [Manuel] Yan, Gen. [Romeo] Espino and Gen. [Rafael] Ileto on the need to send more men to Isabela. There is need to review the need for more trained personnel.
11:00 PM August 30, 1971[1]
Monday
I have amended Proclamation No. 889 to exclude crimes committed in connection with or incident to rebellion and insurrection, emphasized the crime of actually engaging in armed rebellion and insurrection—with Proclamation No. 889-A.
And the page-proof of the book which I have entitled Today’s Revolution: Democracy.
But I am still finishing the epilogue trying to put in the explanations of the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
Sec. [Carlos] Romulo left at 7:15 PM for Europe then to UN [United Nations] to lead our delegation and support the two-China policy thereat.
We have just produced the first corned beef by Delta. The part cara beef that is carabao meat is P1.85 per tin as compared to the P4.20 of the imported variety. They should be producing 10 to 12 thousand cans a month by October.
2:30 AM August 31, 1971[2]
Tuesday
We have just given a dinner for the Lord Alderman of London. The whole day they spent on a cruise to Corregidor and Bataan. They are Mr. and Mrs. Wontner.
Sen. [Jose] Diokno has resigned from the NP [Nacionalista]. Sen. [Jose] Roy without consultations rejected it. But Sen. [Leonardo] Perez issued the statement that Sen. Diokno cannot do otherwise as he is the lawyer of Nilo Tayag, President of the Kabataan Makabayan which has been adjudged in subversive organization by the Ct. of F. [Court of First] Instance of Tarlac.
I have worked on the budget and checked the balances available for calamity and rural improvement.
Ordered saturation of Lanao del Norte of troops because of the deterioration of peace.
Met the Radio TV Asso. for breakfast and worked out the campaign for the understanding of my proclamation.
My book is in final page-proof.
[1] Official Gazette for August 30, 1971: IN VIEW of doubts expressed as to the scope of the proclamation (No. 889) suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, and to further limit any possibility of abuse in the implementation of said proclamation, President Marcos amended his proclamation of Saturday, August 21. In another move, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., on authority of the President, issued Memorandum Circular No. 500, urging all concerned to encourage aggrieved citizens to wire complaints and grievances to the Presidential Administrative Assistance Committee. According to the Circular, any citizen who has any grievance to report in connection with the implementation of the proclamation suspending the writ privilege may send his complaint by telegram, through the Bureau of Telecommunications, to the PAAC at the Department of Justice building. The telecom bureau would transmit the complaint wire at a nominal charge of ten centavos per 50 words. Secretary Melchor also instructed the Director of Telecommunications to accommodate any and all citizens who may wish to avail of the telecom bureau facilities in sending their complaints, should there be any abuse in the implementation of the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. The President was in his private study most of the day disposing of piles of state papers and going over reports from various government agencies.
[2] Official Gazette for August 31, 1971: P resident Marcos had an interesting morning, as he received a report on the downtrend in rice prices, the start of the production of inexpensive local corned beef, and the smooth handling of the arrests in connection with the roundup of subversives. Among the first to see the President was a group composed of Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. and Undersecretary Jose D. Drilon, Jr., concurrent RCA chairman, and a number of congressmen. Tanco briefed the President on the current project to tin corned beef, under the Bonanza label, a joint understaking of the department and of the Delta Food Co. The corned beef would be sold at prices almost three times lower than the imported variety. Next to sit down with the President was the three-man Presidential Administrative Assistance Committee, which reported on the response 30 far to the government’s invitation to citizens to report any abuse in connection with arrests made under the present emergency, with the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus temporarily suspended. The committee, chaired by Undersecretary of Justice Catalino Macaraig and with Undersecretary of National Defense Efren I. Plana and Malacañang Assistant Ronaldo Zamora as members, reported that so far only one complaint had been received. Plana said that he would take action on the complaint. The President also inducted in the morning the officers of the Philippine Chamber of Insurance and Surety. Inducted were Prima Cruz, president; Greg Derigo, first vice president; Cecilio Caponpon, secretary; Felipe Castro, treasurer; Emeterio Roa, Jr., auditor; Reynaldo de Dios, PRO; and Marciano Agana, Jr., Jose Abeleda, Romeo Cruz, and Eduardo Echauz, directors. In the afternoon, the President received a number of visitors, most of them officials who came to consult the President on various problems. Most of the time, he concentrated on his desk work. He directed the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources to institute certain basic changes in the policies and procedures of the department, and several bureaus under it, such as to ensure optimum conservation and utilization of the country’s natural resources. The President’s action was based on the report of the Performance Audit Team which surveyed the DANR two months ago.Among the basic changes recommended by the audit team were the amendment of the Public Land Act and the Mining Act; the computerization of the land titling and patenting processes; and an experiment on aerial seeding for massing reforestation.