We have decided to call a demonstration of our own to take over the space at the Congress on the 25th when the leftist radicals intend to cause trouble. We hope to place 100,000 people to displace the trouble makers and thus avoid violence.
Official Gazette for January 18, 1971: President Marcos met leaders of Congress in the morning to discuss the order of priorities of bills in the coming regular session of Congress and the means of expediting action on the most urgent measures. At the conference, Speaker Jose B. Laurel, Jr. submitted to the President the list of priority bills pending before the House of Representatives in accordance with an agreement between Malacañang on the one hand and the Senate and Pre House on the other on close coordination of efforts to insure swift action on vital measures. The President requested Speaker Laurel to ask the Congress Economic Planning Office, to meet with its Senate counterpart in order that the three priority lists could be consolidated. The President emphasized the importance of the three bodies—the Executive and the Legislative represented by the Senate and the House—getting” together and working out a single priority list, as well as on agreeing on the Reorganization Plan, particularly in regard to the creation of the National Police Commission.
In lieu of the creation of an Indent Office, the President proposed the establishment of a Government Trading Corporation which, he said, will be necessary “if we are serious about establishing trade relations with Russia.” The President directed Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. to draft the necessary bill, and. to consolidate the provisions of the two hills on housing which were included in the priority list. The President also ordered Secretary of Education Onofre D. Corpus to prepare a bill to provide free and compulsory education from the first to the sixth grade, and revising the curriculum for secondary education.
Others at the conference were Senator Leonardo Perez, House Majority Floor Leader Marcelino Veloso, Reps. Jose Alberto of Catanduanes, Eduardo Cojuangco of Tarlac, Tito Dupaya of Cagayan, and Carmelo Barbero of Abra; and Land Authority Governor Conrado Estrella.
Following the conference, the President attended the opening session of the convention of members of the Law Association for Asia and, the Western Pacific, as guest of honor, held at the Philamlife Auditorium. In his address, the President underscored the need for law “to grow in flexibility and wisdom” in the face of rapid worldwide social and economic change, particularly in Asia. He pointed out that the legal profession, “fairly or unfairly, is being criticized in some countries, particularly the developing ones, as a force for maintaining the status quo for resisting change in an age of reform and change.” The President declared that it may be true that the law is inherently conservative but is often forced to be because a minimum of political, social and economic stability is “essential to the enjoyment of legal rights, and to uphold the dignity of the human person.” He stressed that human dignity cannot “flourish in an atmosphere of chronic anarchy and chaos.” (Full text of the President’s speech in OG.)
Represented at the convention were the countries of Afghanistan, Australia, Ceylon, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Western Samoa.
In the afternoon, the President held his first formal press conference of this year. In between these activities, the President did his regular chores; working on state papers and acting on state business.
The Chief Executive authorized the inclusion of nutrition coordination in the food production program of the National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC). In view of this, he designated the National Coordinating Council of Food and Nutrition, represented by the research director of the Food and Nutrition Research Center, as a member of the NFAC. The President pointed out that “national concern should not only be for production of food but also for its nutritive utilization so that the traditional deficiencies in the average diet of the people may be remedied.
I have also accepted the decision of the House of Representatives to set the opening ceremonies and my State of the Nation address at 11:00 AM. There are all kinds of rumors flying around: one says a grenade will be thrown at me or my car; another as to the effect that a photographer may be the would-be assassin; the radicals are preparing strike forces who will hit back at the police; snipers will be posted at the tall buildings; Congress will be besieged for three days etc.
The Solicitor General reports that the Public Service Commission never acted en banc on the motion for reconsideration. The provisional rates appealed on a petition for a certiorari is the basis for the new rates charged by Meralco [Manila Electric Company]. The first decision is under the law unenforceable while on appeal. So if the appeal of the provisional rates is withdrawn, then there would be no basis for the new rates being charged.
I have left the matter to the Secretary of Justice and the Solicitor General.
The Auditor General when asked to conduct an audit of the Meralco books of accounts claimed that they had finished the audit of the books May or June last year. He acts suspiciously.
Atty. Jose [Miravete?], who practices in the Public Service Commission reports that one million pesos was given to Com. [Enrique] Medina and each of the four Associate Commissioners P250,000 each. And each of the four commissioners now receive an amount of P20,000.
So we may have to file criminal and administrative cases against them.
Today I ordered the Presidential Economic Staff to list down the monopolies, combinations, trusts and cartels so we can dismantle them.
I have directed a general study of rates reduction of all public utilities including the Phil. Long Distance Co. and the transportation companies.
I enclose the directives.