[p.87] The rioters have just been dispersed at the corner of Recto and Legarda (3,000 of them) with six grenades of tear gas thrown at 1:00 AM. The gas is still in the air as there is no wind. The 150 men under [Ignacio?] Lacsina who had been at Gate 4 since about 7:00 PM waited for the rioters that forced their way into the U.S. Embassy compound, burned the guardhouse, destroyed the glass windows of the buildings and threw bottles full of gasoline in an attempt to burn it down. They also wrecked all the
Official Gazette for February 18, 1970: President Marcos met with some 100 provincial governors and city mayors at Camp Aguinaldo in the morning. The provincial and city executives received a military briefing on the national situation from Lt. Col. Delfin Castro of the AFP intelligence section. The President announced that he has issued an executive order authorizing the provincial governors to organize provincial strike forces from existing municipal police forces. These strike forces will be used in case of emergencies. They will be under the control and supervision of the Philippine Constabulary but will be at the disposal of provincial governors. The President said that while it was his duty to preserve peace and order throughout, the country, it was the primary responsibility of local executives to maintain peace and order within their jurisdictions. He assured the conferees that the national government was strong and stable and able to defend itself against any force seeking the overthrow of its democratic institutions. The President said his administration will continue to encourage student demonstrations but warned subversive elements against violence. He urged the provincial and city executives to conduct an information campaign on the national situation and acquaint the people against the dangers of communism and subversion. Back in Malacañang early in the afternoon, the President resumed filling up vacancies in the judiciary with the appointment of eight new judges of courts of first instance covering judicial districts in different parts of the country.
Nominated as judges of courts of first instance were:
Fernando Santiago for the 9th judicial district, Branch VI, with station at Lucena City; Catalino Macaraig, Jr. for the 8th judicial district, Branch VI, with station at Calamba, Laguna; Alberto Q. Ubay, for the 7th judicial district, Branch XXXII, with station at Caloocan City; Mrs Floraiana C. Bartolome, for the 5th judicial district, Branch VI, stationed at Malolos, Bulacan; Cavetano Tuason, for the 16th judicial district, Branch X, with station at Mati, Davao Oriental; Moises Dalisay, for the 15th judicial district, Branch V, with station at Malabang, Lanao del Sur; Mario J. Gutierrez, for the 2nd judicial district/Branch III, with station at Vigan, Ilocos Sur; and Severo Malvar for the 15th judicial district, Branch VIII, with station at Cagayan de Oro City. Nominations of the eight new judges were forwarded to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation.
In his talk with ASEAN secretaries who called on him later, the President expressed hope that the just concluded meeting in Manila of the administrative machinery of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would pave the way for greater cooperation among the nations of the region. The ASEAN secretaries bade the President goodbye prior to their departure for their respective countries.
The President said he was pleased to note that the other ASEAN member nations entertain the same hope for cooperation, and that the United Nations had sent a special technical team to help the ASEAN nations.
According to Gunal Kansu, leader of the UN mission to ASEAN, ASEAN nations need not go from one financing institution to another for funding. The UN special team will study specific projects and recommend funding to the proper UN agencies. Accompanied by Ambassador Modesto Farolan, the group included S. T. Stewart, permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore; Mohd. Yusof Hitam, charge d’affaires, Malaysian Embassy, Manila; and Rukmito Hendraningrat, secretary general, ASEAN National Secretariat of Indonesia
shops and restaurants in Plaza Fergusson, at Mabini, UN Avenue and the Luneta. Part of Hilton Hotel destroyed.
Ambassador [Henry] Byroade called me to seek help as the U.S. Embassy had only a few guards. I directed USec. Manuel Collantes to order Mayor [Antonio] Villegas to order the anti-riot squad to break up the rioters.
The massing of 3,000 near Malacañang was apparently a prelude to another attack on the palace.
This was a show of the [Ignacio] Lacsina, Bert [Felixberto] Olalia [Sr.] and Kabataang Makabayan groups.
But they are moving forward to the need for the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or martial law. Just a little bit more and we will have to.
Met with the provincial governors and city mayors at Fort Aguinaldo for a briefing on the plan of the communists to take over the government and the need to organize strike forces of local municipal policemen which I authorized in March 1968. They want guns and ammo, funds and the lifting of public bidding in the purchase of police equipment which I gave.
Chronicle 19 Feb. 1970 reported p.1 Demonstrators storm US Embassy p.2 Manila’s tourist belt in shambles after riot.