Tuesday
Repeatedly, the anti-Marcos group in the Con-Con [Constitutional Convention], has lost to our supporters in the ban-Marcos resolution.
Today Ex-Justice [Antonio] Barrera who with Raul Manglapus lead the fight to have the entire Marcos family down to the 3rd generation from the Presidency lost out on a motion for collective privilege, on a reconsideration, on a nominal voting and on another vote.
In the steering council, they also lost out.
I attach the report from [Guillermo] Guimo [de Vega] as of 5:45 PM.
This is the first day of the plenary sessions of the Concon.
Delegate Jesus Barrera is the same man who upon retirement from the Supreme Court was recommended by Mr. Eugenio Lopez as Ambassador to the Vatican so that he (the new ambassador) could work for the annulment of the marriage of the Lopez daughter, Presentacion (Presy) but he demanded that he be given a logging concession in the Quezon Province then licensed to Gen. Rodriguez (I was expected by them to cancel the license to accommodate Barrera).
I refused and Barrera has not forgiven me for showing him up since then.
We expect the matter to be brought up repeatedly in various questions—qualifications for either the president or the prime minister, executive power, transitory provisions etc.
However, I am confident the delegates will stand firm against the effort to turn the
Constitutional Convention into a form of hatred.
Arbitrated the quarrel between the Ganzon (newly elected Mayor Rodolfo Ganzon) and Caram factions to prevent farther bloodshed.
Worked until 3:30 PM.
11:00 PM February 2, 1972[1]
Ordered the continuation of the investigations on the MIA [Manila International Airport] burning. One confession has been obtained of arson.
Met Rep. Lester Wolffe of New York and a tourist promoter on Philippine tourism.
Then the offer of Northrop to rebuild the MIA, no interest, no downpayments, all amortizations only from fees.
Suggested the new MIA at Bataan. And asked for a formal offer.
Mons. [Mariano] Gaviola came to report the favorable reaction of the hierarchy to my request for the cooperation of the church in the fight against communism.
Then attended to the political leaders.
Congratulated the Con-Con delegate leaders who helped vote down the anti-FM [Ferdinand Marcos] resolution.
Have started a new book on Philippine and Southeast Asia developments.
11:00 PM February 3, 1972[2]
Thursday
Have finished the outline on The Asian Dilemma, The Philippine Paradox.
But problems on the Japanese loans (Project Loans $25 Million and $40 Million commodity loans) have supervened. The Philippine negotiators, as usual, are timid and act like beggars. I have insisted on our writing our own ticket of projects.
Then the various projects for legislation.
And the criminal cases coming up for final analysis and prosecution: Plaza Miranda; MIA [Manila International Airport] burning; the Iloilo murders; The Tarlac syndicates.
But I have spent much time also on the raw materials for the Strategy of Development which I would like to entitle The Philippine Republic.
[1] Official Gazette for February 2, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS, as usual, started the day going over state papers which call for his urgent attention and only took time out to receive his scheduled callers. First to see the President was Congressman Lester Wolff of New York who paid his respects in the course of a brief stopover from his world observation tour. Mr. Wolff was accompanied to Malacañang by William Fiorito, an American industrialist who proposed to launch a tourist program designed to drum up interest among more European and American travellers to visit Southeast Asia. The Chief Executive requested Fiorito to confer with Commissioner Gregorio Araneta of the BTTI. Next to call on the President were Reps. Ramon Durano, Manuel Zosa, and Eduardo Gullas of Cebu; Mariano B. Peñaflorida of Iloilo; Teodulo C. Natividad of Bulacan; Felipe J. Abrigo of Eastern Samar; Felipe B. Almazan of Kalinga-Apayao; Rafael B. Legaspi of Aklan; Jose G. Puyat of Surigao del Sur. They discussed local matters with the President such as the appointment of judges and prosecutors, the installation of pre-fabricated schoolhouses, and the construction of roads rendered impassable by rains and typhoon. Other callers included Senator Leonardo Perez who accompanied the governor, vice governor, and board members of Kalinga-Apayao; Vice Governor and Mrs. Francisco Rabat of Davao Oriental, accompanied by Mayor Thelma Almario, Vice Mayor Jesus Abear, councilor Afrodesio B. Andrada, Gervasio Valenteros, Hansel Magno, Ellen Andrada of Davao Oriental, who likewise presented the problems of their constituencies. At past noontime, the President conferred privately with Bishop Mariano Gaviola, Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Delegate Estanislao Fernandez of the Constitutional Convention, Chief of Police Roland Siquijor of Pasay City, and retired General Emilio Zerrudo.
[2] Official Gazette for February 3, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS, free from his usual schedule of callers, devoted most of his time going over state papers. Among others, he issued: 1) an executive order redefining the functions and duties of the Medical Assistance Program Task Force, which was created earlier under Executive Order No. 337, dated September 1, 1971. The President amended the functions of the task force in order that its activities will not overlap and duplicate the responsibilities and duties of the Philippine Medical Care Commission. As modified, the functions and powers of the task force will be recommendatory and advisory to the commission. 2) an administrative order creating a special committee on narcotics. In his order, the President stated that narcotic addiction had increasingly become a major social problem and it threatens to corrupt and degrade the youth and student population, undermine society and the economy as well. “There is an urgent need to formulate and adopt preventive, curative, rehabilitative and developmental measures to repel and contain this social menace before it gets out of control, to the detriment of our national interest and public welfare.” The special committee is composed of: secretary of Justice as chairman; the solicitor general, as vice chairman; the secretary of health, secretary of education, secretary of social welfare, secretary of finance, commissioner of the budget, and the chief of constabulary, as members. The President, from time to time have to leave his private study to attend to unscheduled callers especially his fiscal and legislative advisers. The Chief Executive worked lengthily on his desk in the afternoon and until late in the evening.