Fatal plane crash of a PAL [Philippine Airlines] AVRO. 31 dead 5 crew members 26 passengers. One survivor an American.
I have directed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines now increase its capability for:
- Ground operations to push out the rebels from towns and barrios that the rebels have occupied.
- The blockade of the Sulu Seas to prevent the entry arms and ammo and war materials from Sabah to Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Palawan, Basilan and Mindanao.
The first requires the increase in operational battalions from the present 54 battalions, 50 which are committed and two in reserve in the Visayas and 2 in Mindanao, to 71 (an increase of seven—four more for the Army which has 36, two for the Constabulary and one for the Marines of the Navy).
At the same time they must study the use of the CHDF [Civilian Home Defense Force] to garrison the towns with the local police. As suggested by Alex [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] the CHDF will have to be called militia so that the whole world knows they are local citizens defending their homes.
Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile would rather have the trainees garrison the towns as the civilian home defense forces are hard to discipline.
But I have ordered the CHDF to be trained and armed with some M-16’s, BAR’s, and mortars, so that they may be a match to the rebels who are well armed.
As the second we must start building fast 40-50 knot speedboats to watch the rebels in their Volvo-Pentas,
Met Amb. [William] Sullivan, Terry Arnold and Jose Marie Soriano, Pres. of the American Chamber of Commerce on the land ownership question. Tentatively agreed to the foundation scheme for private lands. On foreclose, reclassification and renter easement or commodatum.
Sugar is meeting erratic demand and prices. Everyone is looking for a five-year contract.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.
I attach the 5 year contract of EEC [European Economic Council] with the Commonwealth Countries—at sixteen cents a pound or $360 a ton or 150 pounds sterling a ton.
Rather low.
And the American refiners are not buying as their warehouse are full.