As I suspected Father [Jose] Blanco sought some more publicity by refusing to be released. PC [Philippine Constabulary] Chief MGen. [Fidel] Ramos did right by refusing to humour him—but courteously so. Because as he explained he had his orders to release him.
Father Blanco also refused to sign the oath of allegiance to the Republic. For some time (or hour) the others refused to do the same until the blind man asked an explanation of the oath and signed or rather thumbmarked the oath.
It was agreed after the meeting yesterday that both Father Blanco and Father [Benigno] Mayo would sign as guarantor for the others. Father Blanco refused.
Apparently Archbishop [Jaime] Sin is going along with the Blanco position to question the justness and fairness of the conduct of the raid.
Father Mayo and he have issued letters for dissemination questioning the narration of facts of the Sec. of National Defense.
Official Gazette for August 30, 1974: THE PRESIDENT ordered the release of P44.2 million for the repair and cementing of national roads in Central Luzon, including Greater Manila. The P44.2 million earmarked for the repair and cementing of roads is broken down as follows: 1) P30.095 million will go to the repair of national roads m the disaster areas, 2) P14.105 million for concrete paving of 10 principal road sections in Metropolitan Manila. The President, likewise, ordered the release of P5 million for the repair of communal irrigation systems in the calamity areas. Another P1.5 million was released for the repair of irrigation pumps. The amount will be used for the rehabilitation of 150 to 200 irrigation systems and 4,000 pumps.
THE PRESIDENT created the Filipino Muslim’s Welfare and Relief Agency to handle any assistance from the Islamic Conference for the benefit of Filipino Muslims. The conference is the confederation of Islamic nations throughout the world. The aid was offered during the last meeting of the Islamic Conference in Kuala Lumpur. At that assembly, the Muslim countries took cognizance of the efforts being undertaken by the Philippine government for the upliftment of Muslims in Mindanao. In Executive Order No. 432, the President charges the new agency with the exclusive responsibility of disposing this aid, so that “maximum benefit” could be obtained from it. Acting Gov. Simeon Datumanong of Sultan Kudarat was named chairman of the agency, with Minister Sergio A. Barrera as the co-chairman.
MONETARY Board has allowed foreign management firms, which entered into a management contract with domestic private commercial banks with foreign equity, to designate a foreigner to hold one of the responsible positions in the local bank they are managing. The MB regulation modified the prior limitation on the authority of the management companies to appoint foreigners to hold decisive positions in the managed bank but subject to the conditions imposed by the Central Bank. One of these conditions is the program for ultimate Filipinization of any such staff or line position which may be temporarily held by such foreigner under the management contract or similar document.