Wednesday The counter attacks have been successful in Cotabato. I attach the self-explanatory reports. The PC [Philippine Constabulary] organization ties it down to garrison duty. It has the most number of men in the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] but the least...
Marcos Diaries
March 1, 1973
Thursday Chairman Leo [Leonides] Virata, drunk, indolent, bad manager but a good think man. Strategy for over-all economic relations. The Command and General Staff College Civilian Supremacy and the Arrogance of Infallibility. Electronics—Sharps of Japan, Araki Saiki...
March 6, 1973
Tuesday Plans for a counter-attack. No withdrawal by surrounded forces. What a resolute policy can do—and a few reinforcements. The morale of both civilian and military in Cotabato has skyrocketed. Lanao is quiet. Sulu has two skirmishes. Alleged use of a mortar by...
January 17, 1973
For a time I was tempted to organize a revolutionary government. It was simpler to do so. Many demanded it. Even those close to me. But the long run results would have been more complicated. And the intrigues, conspiracies and plots would have continued. We would have...
January 13, 1973
Saturday Ambassador [Henry] Byroade explained that he did not mean to intervene in the internal affairs of the Philippines like the citizens assembly or Barangay. I, in tum, told him that the citizens assembly is the best way to bring about the approval of a new...
January 4, 1973
The First Lady underwent minor surgery last night at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The operation lasted from 11:15 P.M. to 11:30 P.M. A tendon suture which was causing irritation due to a foreign body reaction was removed. She was allowed to leave the hospital the...
December 25, 1972
Monday Christmas Day Late lunch—2:30 PM after working out the campaign of information on the new threats from the subversives and the rightists—with Secs. [Juan] Ponce Enrile and [Vicente] Abad Santos—and Tibo [Primitivo] Mijares. I also called Gen. Tomas Diaz and...
December 9, 1972
Saturday Dr. Bob Chase of Stanford University Hospital arrived at about 5:30 AM and came to see Imelda at 10:00 AM. He gave her a clean bill of expectations. She passed the neurology test with flying colors. Her nerves and tendons are working. Pres. [Richard] Nixon’s...
October 20, 1972
Friday Imelda started playing badminton today at 5:30 PM while we were playing golf. With her at the tennis court which we walled with lawanit and canvas to serve as windbreak were [Lourdes] Lulu Tinio, [Imelda] Meldy Cojuangco and Helen Cu-Unjieng. She played for...
October 2, 1972
Monday We are now watching the development of opposition among the clergy, possibly the nuns, the Free Farmers Federation and the Christian Socialist Movement. So the opening of the schools in the high school and college levels have to be postponed. For there would be...