As we expected the Muslim leaders of Cotabato denied the existence of an army of the Moslem Independence Movement. Congressman Salipada Pendatun came back all the way from New York. Mayor Udtog Matalam of Pikit came to say that his father could not come. So did Blah and Ester Sinsuat, Gov. [Simeon] Datumanong and Mayor Dalid, the Pres. of the mayors’ league.
They claimed that the fighting were mistaken encounters.
The PC [Philippine Constabulary] (Gen. [Eduardo] Garcia and Lt. Col. [Carlos] Cajelo) stand by their stories and quote the detachment commanders Lts. Soria and Dres who were fired upon both in Thursday, Feb. 19th, and Friday, Feb. 20th by black-shirted armed men. The intelligence agents report that black is the color of the uniforms of the MIM; that a tailor in Pikit makes them; that the cloth is British khaki.
After a 4-hour conference we agreed that the PC should aggressively disarm all men with unlicensed firearms, attack and pursue all those who start violence and maintain peace and order impartially for Christian and Moslem alike.
Official Gazette for February 27, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS worked at his desk for most of the morning acting on state papers and other official business.
At noon he broke off, to receive a delegation composed of members of the Future Farmers of the Philippines and the Future Agricultural Homemakers of the Philippines.
The President was visibly relaxed with the young people, whom he lauded for being engaged at their age in a very important area of activity, saying that the escalation of national efforts to develop fully the agricultural potentials of the country requires the participation of the young.
The President urged rural youths who have migrated to urban centers to “renew their kinship with the soil and thus help the government increase its capabilities in fully exploiting the green revolution to benefit the mass of the people.”
He told the students that one of the top priorities in the Reorganization Plan of the government is related to the reorientation of the entire educational system from academic to vocational education with emphasis on agricultural courses.
The delegation was accompanied to Malacañang by officials of the Bureau of Vocational Education, headed by Assistant Director Napoleon Dignadice.
After lunch, the President rested briefly then returned to his desk work. He remained at his study till about 5 p.m. when he conferred with Mindanao leaders on the Cotabato situation.
Among those present were Gov. Simeon Datumanong and Lt. Col. Carlos Cajelo, PC provincial commander and co-chairmen of the Peace Commission, Bishops Gerard Mongeau and Constantino Manguramas, members; Mayor Dima Dalid of Carmen, president of the Cotabato Mayors League, Undersecretaries of national Defense Efren Plana and Jose M. Crisol, Undersecretary of Agriculture Jose Drilon, Jr., Undersecretary of Justice Guillermo Santos, Sen. Mamintal A. Tamano, Rep. Salipada A. Pendatun, Commissioner of Small Settlers Raoul Beloso, Commissioner of National Integration Mama Sinsuat, Mayor Udtog Matalam, Jr. of Pikit, Duma Sinsuat, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Mrs. Ester Blah Sinsuat, Gen. Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; Brig. Gen Rafael Ileto, PA commanding general, and Brig. Gen. Eduardo Garcia, PC chief.
We are going to set up Edcor [Economic Development Corps]-type farms but on a cooperative basis like the Magalang or the Llavera projects on a larger scale. All these for all—Christians, Moslems and Tirurays living in separate areas but in one settlement and under one Army Administration.
We have prepared our position on the conference on the Law of the Sea. And prepared the projected occupancy of the islands in the Spratley group except Itu Aba which is apparently occupied by the Nationalist Chinese.
I enclose the papers. But I have ordered added the position that we oppose an international regime which does not recognize our rights or attempts licensing activities.