Tuesday We are concentrating on the Muslim secessionist problem. So we are settling our problems with the Americans. I have bent backward to accommodate the desire of the American businessmen who want to continue the beneficial use of their lands—private land bought...
1974
September 2, 1974
Monday I have agreed to a press statement and an aide memoire prepared by Dr. [Mohammad Hassan] El Tohamy I enclose these documents prepared during the morning meeting with Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] but corrected by me 5:00 to 7:40 PM before Tohamy’s departure at...
September 11, 1974
Wednesday (My Birthday) The cry of happiness of two of the poorest families in Cabasan, Masantol, Pampanga when they started to look into the envelopes I had left with them as a gift and I had left their house to cross the waters surrounding their shack—was one of the...
September 1, 1974
Sunday What is the truth about the raid on the Novitiate of the Sacred Heart at Novaliches? Was there any basis for the raid? The truth is that there was reason to mid the Novitiate as Father Blanco even before Martial Law had been advocating revolution. Four...
August 30, 1974
Friday 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....
August 31, 1974
Saturday Archbishop Jaime Sin and Cardinal [Julio] Rosales met with me this morning. Archbishop Sin was almost apologetic for his almost condemnatory letter which will be read in the churches and in the vigil at 3:00 PM tomorrow. But I am disappointed in him. He has...
August 27, 1974
Tuesday Have ordered the declassification of the tentative findings of Intelligence Operations “Sea Hawk”; the briefing of the Catholic hierarchy, foreign correspondents and even the military officers on an on-the-record and off-the-record basis. This was after my...
August 28, 1974
Wednesday Called Father Jose Blanco to Malacañang with Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile, Gens. [Fidel] Ramos, [Fabian] Ver and [Prospero] Olivas to convince him to work for our reforms and support the government. He was agreeable and stated that he would ask that government...
August 26, 1974
Monday The Sacred Heart Novitiate of the Jesuits at Novaliches has been raided by the NISA [National Intelligence and Security Authority] and the Metrocom [Metropolitan Command]. Father Jose Blanco, Jose Alto, head of the Liquidation squad (both of the (KASAPI)...
August 23, 1974
Friday Surveyed Central Luzon and the floods. Sullipan Central Dike, Apalit, Candaba and Arayat, Calumpit and Malolos by helicopter. Used both the twin engined Huey and the Bolkan-105. Rained out in Calumpit and Malolos so I had to return at about 1:30 PM. At Arayat I...