I have been headlined by The Philippine Herald as charging the LP [Liberal Party] as prosubversive. In the same front page, I like the picture of Bongbong and me inside the KLM [Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (Royal Dutch Airlines)] 747 with me playfully punching him on the left chest with right straight when smilingly greeting him.
Of course all I said of LP President [Gerardo] Roxas was that I was taken aback that he had attacked the decision of the Supreme Court and that it was strange that they should go to the Supreme Court for redress and attack it when they lost their case.
More and more people are strongly recommending martial law. The governor of Ilocos Sur—now Antonio Villanueva whom I appointed board member and upon the leave of absence of all the lady members of the board assumed as governor—reports that the province has been infiltrated by NPA [New People’s Army]; that the new governor-elect, Chavit [Luis] Singson now with the help of the NPA; that the murderers of the late Mayor Salibu of San Emilio were NPA and the cause of killing was his refusal to join the NPA; that the governorelect has a secret alliance with the NPA; that some of the NPA’s who were arrested and confessed to this murder were his bodyguards; and that the only solution is martial law in Ilocos Sur. I attach his report.
Official Gazette for December 14, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS had greater opportunity to concentrate on his desk work, with callers not heavy as usual.
In the morning, he had only two ceremonies to attend to, one, the presentation of credentials by the new envoy from Finland, Ambassador AArno Eino Karliho, a non-resident diplomatic representative of his country to the Philippines. At the rites, the President expressed the hope that the two countries would work more closely in attaining common goals. Ambassador Karliho conveyed his country’s hopes for the continuing growth and progress of the Philippines, while affirming his country’s policy of strict neutrality in world affairs.
Present at the ceremony were Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Secretary of Justice Vicente Abad Santos, Secretary of Agrarian Reform Conrado F. Estrella, Secretary of General Services Constancio E. Castañeda; and Undersecretaries of Foreign Affairs Jose D. Ingles and Manuel Collantes.
Later in the morning, the President inducted Judge Arsenio Solidum as the presiding judge of the court of first instance of Albay and Legaspi City.
Present at the induction were high government officials and close friends and relatives of the inductee, among them: Sen. Lorenzo Teves, Reps. Jose Alberto of Catanduanes, Constantino Navarro of Surigao del Norte and Carlos Imperial of Albay; Gov. Vicente Alberto of Catanduanes, and Mrs. Aurora Solidum, wife of the inductee.
The President had no other callers of note the rest of the day except for a group of mayors from Rizal province, who consulted him on peace and order problems and made representations for the release of barrio improvement funds to the municipality of the province.
Among those who called on the President were Mayors Florencio Bernabe of Paranaque, F. del Rosario of Navotas, F. Aguilar of Las Piñas, M. Tanyag of Taguig, E. Flores of Pateros, A. C. Esguerra of Taytay, Osmando de Guzman of Marikina, N. Roxas, of San Mateo, T. Rodriguez of Montalban, F. Felix of Cainta, B. Fenesa of Baras, L. Aquino of Pililla, F. Javier of Mandaluyong, A. Natividad of Teresa; Mayors-elect S. Tiongson of Angono, C. Yonasco of Binangonan, Jose Cruz of Malabon and F. Pasay of Cardona.
The rest of the work day was spent by the President at his desk, where he went over state papers and considered and acted on other government business.
Congressman [Constantino] Navarro and [Eduardo] Cojuangco [Jr.] recommend the same thing.
The Supreme Court was bombed with pill boxes yesterday. Security was furnished. I attach flash report of Gen. [Fabian] Ver.
Bongbong went to the Manila Yacht Club to learn to sail. His instructor was Mr. ______ Sun, the club commodore.
Then he tried the water scooter on the Pasig at 7:00 PM after our golf game.
Gen. Tomas Diaz and Gen. Ver came to submit reports on the NPA attacks on three military installations in Cagayan Valley. I attach intelligence report.
I have ordered the rocket research and experiments of Dr. Max Goldberger to be started. I will fund it with the Intelligence Funds at my disposal.
I attach report.
I have just convinced [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto to accept, even only for a few months, the position of Philippine Ambassador to Tokyo.