I announced the reorganization of the Armed Forces with the retirement of the retirable generals (18 out of the 24 retirable generals) Lt. Cols. (13) and Cols. (20).
And the reappointment of [Juan] Johnny Ponce Enrile as Secretary of National Defense.
There will probably be some objections to him for being a lameduck as was voiced by Louie Beltran. But I explained that there was no one else who could approximate the stature, competence and qualifications of Johnny.
And I needed him for the reorganization of the Armed Forces.
In the press interview this afternoon at 3:00 PM, although I went into the room at 4:00 PM I also announced the national government had custody of a suspect in the Plaza Miranda bombing; that I had extended Gens. [Mariano]Ordoñez of Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] whom I met thereafter, and [Wilfredo] Encarnacion.
Played golf with Gens. [Romeo] Espino, [Rafael] Ileto and [Fidel] Ramos. I informed them of the plan to retire Gen. [Manuel] Yan and the major service commanders except Gen. Ileto becomes Vice Chief of Staff as well as the PC [Philippine Constabulary] Zone Commanders and the Brigade Commanders.
I also met Cols. Jolly Bugarin of the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation], [Prospero Olivas of CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] and Briones of Ancar on the Plaza Miranda case.
Entry is misdated as 1971.
Official Gazette for January 1, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS started the new year by receiving the Junior Diplomats of the United States, composed of American newspaper boys currently on a tour of Hawaii and the Far East. Talking to the young ambassadors, who were led by Mr. and Mrs. Max Milians, director and house mother, respectively, the President expressed the hope that they will have a very fruitful tour and that someday he will read their names in their country’s economic, political and social hierarchy. The young envoys’ tour is sponsored by the Hearst Newspapers, in cooperation with Trans-World Airways, Hilton Hotels, Thai International Airways and the tourist bureaus and associations of host countries.
Those who called on the President were Paul R. Noseworthy, Paul Hoss, Louis Manzi, George Agustin, Jr. Paul H. Jones, William Connors, Paul C. Ornoski, John Andrew Frye, Daniel Wm. Dickison, William Ross Harris, Alvin Go, Jon Michael Borm, James Puhek, David Paul Mitchell, Roy Lee Tomlin, Gregory John Mellberg and Martin Joseph Young. They were accompanied to Malacañang by Executive Director Salvador C. Peña of the Philippine Tourist and Travel Association.
After the call, the President closetted himself in his study and worked on his desk until early afternoon and evening. Leaving his desk work for a while late in the afternoon, the President inducted into office Col. Carlos J. Cajelo as governor of Cotabato. Present at the oath-taking ceremony were the inductee’s relatives and friends led by his wife and children
They seem to have solved it.
I attach the report on the matter.