1:30 AM December 18, 1971
Pakistan has surrendered East Bengal and Dacaa [Dhaka] is in the hands of the Indians. Bangladesh is a reality. Although the first massive act of war was the sneak attack by the Pakistan Airforce on the Indian airfields, aggression pays. And the weak nations like ours must learn from this lesson.
Today I met the sugar planters on the suspension of crop loans ordered by PNB [Philippine National Bank]. They claim the US quota may not be filled this year because of curtailed crop loans.
Yesterday I directed Chairman Leo[nides] Virata to find out why Netracor is reneging on
Official Gazette for December 17, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS received numerous provincial delegations and business groups.
First to be received by the President was the group representing the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters led by its president, Carlos Ledesma, and accompanied by Ambassador Ramon Nolan and Sugar Quota Administrator Jose Unson.
During his meeting with the sugar planters, the President extended the life of the social amelioration program of the sugar industry indefinitely until Congress shall have passed an alternate measure.
He told officials of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters that he would like to make the social amelioration program, which was started in 1968, a continuing scheme in the absence of legislation that will give the sugar workers a fair share of the profits of the industry.
Because of the failure of Congress to establish a social amelioration fund for the sugar industry, the President directed the Sugar Quota Board to extend the collection of the ₱1 levy per picul indefinitely.
At the same time, the President told the sugarcane planters to request sugar millers indebted to the Philippine National Bank to pay their amortizations on time to enable the PNB to extend more crop loans to the sugar planters.
Among those who called on the President, aside from Carlos Ledesma, were Jaime Dacanay, M. Bagabaldo, Roberto Lian Tada, Marino Rubin, Rosendo Coruña, Desideria Miranda, Jose Montalbo, Erwin Bautista, and Enrique Rojas.
Following his meeting with the sugarcane planters, the President repaired to the Maharlika Hall where he received a number of provincial delegations which included:
1. The Albay delegation, which sought assistance in the form of operational funds, repair of public works facilities, the Manila South Road, avid support for the peace and order drive in the Bicol region.
2. The Marawi City delegation, headed by Mayor Omar Dianalan, which consulted the President on the economic and social development program for Lanao and Cotabato provinces. The group was accompanied by Pauti Terico, DBP branch manager in Ozamis City.
3. The group from Ilocos Sur, led by Acting Gov. Antonio Villanueva and Governor-elect Luis “Chavit Singson, who accompanied to Malacañang Marina Salibo, whose husband, the late Mayor Marciano Salibo of San Emilio, was ambushed December 6 while enroute home from Vigan. They called to request national government aid in the early apprehension of the ambushers believed to be members of the New People’s Army.
Acting on their request, the President directed Brig. Gen. Eduardo M. Garcia, PC chief, to send a special team to Ilocos Sur to verify reports of increased activity by members of the NPA in the province; and also to check on the reports that they had something to do with the ambush killing of the mayor and to apprehend the perpetrators after filing the proper charges in court.
Among others received by the President was Mayor-elect Nemesio Yabut of Makati, Rizal, who presented a check in the amount of ₱10,000 for the Maligayang Pasko 71.
For the rest of his workday, the President concentrated on his desk work.
its contract to sell Indonesia cement because of lack of cement when we are supposed to have a 60 million surplus.
And then I met Princess Tarhata who wants to go to Sabah by Phil. Navy boat to receive the cession money as the Malaysians call it or rent money as we call it. I dissuaded her.
Then I worked on the problems of the local administrators, the governors and mayors.
Imee and Irene arrived at 5:05 PM by KLM [Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (Royal Dutch Airlines)] 747. They came straight through Athens, Beirut and Bangkok, the last being a nine hour ten minute leg. Imee came prettily in blue knickers and boots. Irene was cute in brown boots.
The [Amcar?] under Col. Briones and Capt. Domingo may have caught the Plaza Miranda culprits. One Flavio Binaoro was questioned for carnapping and he answers to the description of witnesses as the long faced man in the composite picture. He has confessed his participation. He claims that they were promised P60,000 but were not paid all by Sugay a relative of Mayor Antonio Villegas. They were after Mayor-elect [Ramon] Bagatsing [Sr.].
I attach the pictures.