[p.82] [Eleuterio] Adevoso’s group has postponed its meeting set Wednesday. They must smell something.
But de Leon says the barracks in this secret training place in Northern Samar is so camouflaged that it cannot be seen from the air. It is a long building roofed with galvanized iron over which tree bark and soil is spread. Two Americans went there four times in the about two weeks that he was there by small plane which are then covered with tree foliage. He does not know their names but will try to get their pictures as well as that of the place when they return Wednesday. He was with an Atty. Tumulak, [Sergio] Osmeña’s [Jr.] man, when he went there last.
I have now asked the 3rd PC Zone Commander, Gen. [Benjamin] Reyes, to come with his CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] officer, Maj. Manglongat. There is one Home Defense Force in this zone and it should be used against this camp.
Gov. [Gregorio] Licaros has called up by long distance to report that the IMF [International Monetary Fund] team’s (headed by Dr. Zahvkar) report will be submitted to the IMF Board next Friday the 20th and will be approved. The third credit tranche of
Official Gazette for February 14, 1970: President Marcos issued a number of directives on certain problems requiring early action, received some visitors, met officials on other problems, and made at least one appointment to a special post. Otherwise, he kept his Saturday activities light, except for the usual concentration on urgent state papers and other official matters. Among his first callers were officials of the Commission on Elections, who discussed a sheaf of proposed bills aimed at strengthening’ the authority of the Comelec, and introducing some reforms in the election process. Earlier, the President named Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A.Virata as governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development representing the Philippines and as representative on the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank, replacing former Secretary of Finance Eduardo Z. Romualdez, who had resigned. Calling at Malacañang in the morning were Comelec Chairman Jaime N. Ferrer and Commissioners Lino Patajo and Cesar Miraflor who submitted four bills proposing amendments to the Revised Election Code, with the request that the President certify them to Congress. After meeting with the Comelec officials, the President conferred with Director of Forestry Jose Viado regarding the possible release of public lands which will be used as relocation sites for squatters from the Greater Manila area. Eyed were public lands in Rizal and Bataan. After this conference, the President worked for a while on official papers. Among others, the Chief Executive:
Created a committee to look into all educational foundations assisted by United States funds, and directed it to submit a report on its findings as soon as practicable. Directed PHHC General Manager Sebastian Santiago to give a 90-day grace period to PHHC tenants facing eviction for delinquency in settling accounts. In giving the order, the President emphasized that “no tenant or awardee shall be deprived of his property nor should his rights be in any way disturbed without first giving him the opportunity to settle his obligations to the corporation.” Proclaimed Monday, February 16, a special public holiday in Muslim regions, in connection with the feast of Eidul Adh-ha.
$27.5 million will be granted, $40 million loan for Central Bank working balance from the consortium of 23 U.S. banks, $40 million loan from the Federal Reserve Bank and possibly $60 million standby loan from the consortium. He leaves for Tokyo next Tuesday where we hope to borrow $200 million standby and $50 million trade credits.
The dollar now costs P6.10—a new high.
[p.83] This is what concerns me most because if it goes any lower, we will have inflation and instability. Then there may be riots.
We must now pass the price control bill I certified last Thursday (Feb. 12th) and the rent control bill. Then we must allow the entry of essential commodities to be stocked in the Free Trade Zone at Mariveles.
We must soon allow the expenditure of funds for highways and ports because while there is money in Manila, there is beginning to be a pinch in the provinces.
I should record the attempt of Angel Nepomuceno, co-owner (with Bibit Duavit) of the Butterfly and who is now keeping [Fernando] Gerry Barican at his house, and [Antonio] Tony Pastelero to hold me up for P150,000 for alleged expenses during the Alcantara funeral when allegedly they used 250 students to prevent any untoward event—allegedly committed by [Antonio] Tony Raquiza. Tony Raquiza denied this to me yesterday when he came to see me playing golf alone at about 6:30 PM. He says he did not convey this to me as he found the proposal obnoxious as it smacked of blackmail.
The students have their weaknesses.