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.
Official Gazette for February 1, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS signed the nominations of seven persons to fill vacancies in municipal courts, in line with the determined campaign of the government against criminality and lawlessness.
At mid-morning the President broke off from his usual early deskwork to confer with representatives of the two feuding political factions in Iloilo City, headed by Rep. Fermin Caram and City Mayor Rodolfo Ganzon.
Emphasizing his concern for peace and order which he said “leads the agenda of government through the remainder of my Administration,” the President asked the protagonists to “settle their differences.”
Others who attended the conference were:
Solicitor General Felix Antonio; Director Jolly Bugarin of the National Bureau of Investigation; Colonel Luis Amor, III PC zone commandor; Col. Prospero Olivas, CIS chief; Col. Emilio Narcise, Iloilo PC provincial commander; Ex-Vice Mayor Arturo Dicen; Ex-Vice Mayor Godofredo Quimsing; Ex-Congressman Pascual Espinosa; Ex-councilor Neil Hechanove; Vice Mayor Francisco Garganera; Councilors Remy Jacomille, Flor Gallon, Francisco Divinagracia, Reuben Duron, Federico Abadiano, Edclie Ledesma, Edgar Gil, Romeo Hibionada, and Assistant Chief of Police Teodolfo de la Cruz.
After the conference, the President received Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Lotuza, and Letty Formoso, representing the Filipino community in Stockton, California, who came to say good-bye before returning to their adopted homes.
Next to call on the President was Rev. Macario Ga of the Philippine Independence Church, who offered the PIC’s assistance in the promotion of the people’s welfare. The President asked the Bishop to leave the proposal with him for further study.
Other callers who saw the President were Governors Lino Bocalan of Cavite, Aguedo Agbayani of Pangasinan, and Mayor Omar Dianalan of Marawi City, all of whom consulted the President on the problems of their respective constituencies.
Later in the day, following a 30-minute briefing on the operations of the Department of Social Welfare, th3 President called for an integrated approach by all government and agencies concerned with the implementation of the program of socio-economic development, to prevent overlapping of functions and the thin dispersal of government resources.
The agencies involved in this program are the Department of Social Welfare, Presidential Assistant on Community Development, Agricultural Productivity Commission, Agricultural Credit Administration, National Food and Agriculture Council, National Cottage Industries Development Authority, Manpower and Youth Training Council, and the various offices under the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
After the briefing on the disaster relief operations, the President directed Secretary Estefania Aldaba-Lim of social welfare to draw up a realistic estimate of the calamity fund needed for the year, based on her own experience, so that he could recommend to Congress a more realistic and adequate calamity fund.
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.