Am working on the changes on foreign policy. Spent the whole morning studying the pros and cons of diplomatic relations with Russia. Dr. Valentina Labomondrova is here from Moscow. I have ordered the Executive Secretary, PES [Presidential Economic Staff] and BOI [Board of Investments] Chairman Ting [Vicente] Paterno to meet with her to find out what advantages there would be in diplomatic relations with Russia. And how it would affect our relations with the U.S.
And Sangley Point was returned to us this afternoon. This is the result of the reminder we sent the U.S. government last November. But actually Ambassador [Henry] Byroade had alerted us and suggested that we send a note of reminder so that the Philippine government would look as if it had won a point from the U.S. However, I feel that we were baited into a trap because now the Philippines cannot complain of any loss of income because of the closing of Sangley. About 1,400 Filipino laborers and employees will have to go and lose their jobs although it will take seven to eight months for the actual transfer. And now the complaints of the Cavite officials on this would have to be met by the Philippine government and not the U.S. officials. We really got taken!
Worked practically two hours on the Marcos Foundation and its investments with [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto.
Consulted him and Johnny [Juan] Ponce Enrile, Justices Tony [Antonio] Barredo and Dingdong [Claudio] Teehankee [Sr.] and they all agree that our idea of filing a case of blackmail or libel is not wise.
They recommended that we meet the Dovie Boehms [Beams] attack with silence and not descend to her level. A tabloid could do well with the nudes and the report of her psychotic state. But we should show these facts to all our friends specially the senators and congressmen.
Official Gazette for December 10, 1970: President Marcos worked mostly on state papers, receiving only one visitor throughout the whole day, US Ambassador Henry Byroade who informed the President that the US government is ready to turn over Sangley Point, an American naval base, to the Philippines.
Among other directives issued by the President was the order to the PC chief to provide protection for a farmer’s family threatened with death by unidentified parties. The head of the family was himself earlier killed by assassins. Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. also saw the President to inform him of the arrival of a team of experts from India, who will help the Philippine National Railways modernize its service. The team, headed by Manuel Menezes, director of research of the Indian Ministry of Railways, and K. Visivanatharn and T. P. S. Kent, will conduct initially a study of the railway system.
The President remained at his desk through the afternoon and evening studying reports and other government papers.
We could insert the documentation of the character of this woman in the case filed by the U.S. V Arts against her and the writers and newspapers. Thus prove the falsity of these gossips being purveyed through media and the coffee shops and wreck her credibility.