Ambassador [Henry] Byroade explained that he did not mean to intervene in the internal affairs of the Philippines like the citizens assembly or Barangay.
I, in tum, told him that the citizens assembly is the best way to bring about the approval of a new constitution that will attain my objectives of stability, discipline and reform without loss of freedom, and that he need not worry about a dictatorship because I did not want it—what I wanted was a constitution.
I showed him the cable from John G. Sharon officially inviting Imelda to Pres. [Richard] Nixon’s invitation. He did not show it but he must have been surprised because he explained that there was a State Department directive to discourage the visit of dignitaries to the inauguration.
He was apparently relieved of worries about political developments as he farther explained that he would have difficulty in Congress for our aid and support which is not controlled by the U.S. President if there should be developments he cannot explain.
We will have to plan freedom from dependence on the U.S.
I also conferred with the Speaker and House Majority Floor Leader ([Cornelio] Villareal
Official Gazette for January 13, 1973: TAXPAYERS ACCOUNT NUMBER (TAN) is required of all applicants for residence certificates. This was stressed by Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata as queries on the matter continued to pour in from all parts of the country. Those who do not have TAN’s may acquire the same in the BIR national office or in the revenue district offices covering their respective areas. Sec. Virata pointed out that Executive Order No. 213 dated March 5, 1970 requires the extensive use of the TAN in all government transactions. The executive order requires “all departments bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations, to require every individual, corporation, partnership, and association to state or place on all documents and records of any business transaction between persons and entities whose documents need to be registered, to state or place on said records and documents their tax account number.”
ALL PROVINCIAL AND city treasurers and assessors were exhorted to exert utmost effort to collect all delinquent real estate taxes. Finance Secretary Virata made the exhortation after learning that P108 4 million in realty taxes was not collected in Calendar Year 1971 Secretary Virata said that out of a total amount of P241.230.788 collectibles m real property taxes in 1971 from 66 provinces and 61 cities, only P132,892,578 was collected, representing 55.06 per cent of the collectibles, leaving a balance of P108,401,210 still to be collected.
PRESIDENT MARCOS called on the leaders of Congress and the Constitutional convention to submit their recommendations on the advisability of referring more questions of national importance to the citizens assemblies, even as reports on the referendum from different parts of the country continued to be highly favorable to the administration. The president had ordered the holding of citizen assemblies in lieu of open debate on the- Constitution over the radio and television which had been abused by elitist groups, because citizens assemblies afforded more free debate and gave the barrio people from 15 years old and above a chance to air their personal views. Meanwhile, some 53 per cent of the citizen assemblies which had completed the referendum on vital issues: 1) Voiced overwhelming support of the way President Marcos is running the government; 2) Approved the continuation of Martial Law; 3) Approved the proposed new Constitution with the exception of the provision on an interim National Assembly; and 4) Rejected the holding of elections in November.
and [Marcelino] Veloso) informing them of my plan to push through a new constitution that may be different from the draft by the Concon [Constitutional Convention]. It would be unicameral with a definite period for an interim government; that we would have to retain powers to prevent a constitutional crisis but by virtue of the will and decision of the people; that we would have to adopt a unicameral legislature; that we would meet on the morning of the 17th to make a final decision.
And Delegate [Gilberto] Duavit that we would have to prepare a new constitution more acceptable to the people, perhaps writing several drafts or alternative proposals and asking citizens assemblies to choose one.
But as Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile reports from Cebu where he has gone from Zamboanga and Basilan, the sentiment for the reforms and support for more discipline and powers by the President is overwhelming.