Imee and Irene have been permitted to stay in the palace under a tutor doing their homework and taking the exams of Assumption College but not attending classes there because of the threat of kidnapping against them.
Imelda and I talked to Father Dominic about the plot to kidnap Bongbong by some Cairo Muslims, possibly Filipinos. The information came from Jimmy Rafferty of the U.S. Embassy who got it from his or their Tausog agents. Kokoy [Benjamin] Romualdez has notified Scotland Yard about the plot. And the English government is taking all precaution.
The Liberals have taken a full-page advertisement on martial law declaring they would not attend sessions if martial law is declared.
I have had to reiterate my stand that martial law is the last recourse—that I would resort to it only if there is massive sabotage, terrorism, assassination and/or violent grab for control of government.
The students led by Eric Baculinao, [Fernando] Gerry Barican and Nelson Navarro met Sec. Ernesto Maceda on their initiative and wanted ground rules established on the demonstration on the 25th.
Official Gazette for January 20, 1971: A LARGE GROUP of farmers representing two organizations in Nueva Ecija called on President Marcos to present a manifesto urging the government to push through its crusade against vested interests Led by Mac Fabian, chairman of the Federation of Land Reform Farmers Associations, and Sergio Cayanan, spokesman for the Filipino Agrarian Movement, the delegation urged the President to break up monopolies and otherwise effect a more equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth so as to benefit the larger mass of the people.
Also present during the call of the farmers were Luis Taruc and Land Authority Gov. Conrado Estrella.
Earlier in the morning, the President inducted two new associate justices of the Court of Appeals, namely, Juan O. Reyes and Mateo Canonoy, both judges of the courts of first instance of Manila and Cebu, respectively, at the time of their appointments. Present at the ceremonies were relatives of the new justices, as well as prominent members of the judiciary and Secretary of Justice Vicente Abad Santos.
In the afternoon the President received the members of the Japanese business survey team who had arrived in Manila to inquire into possibilities of investment or other trade ties with the Philippines.
At the head of the groups were Mission Chief Teiichiro Morinaga, Mission Deputy Chief Isao Masamuna, Hiroshi Shimizu, Counselor of Ministers Secretariat, Ministry of Finance; Masaki Seo, official of Asian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Makoto Kobayashi, official of Trade and Development Bureau, Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
Others who called on the President during the day included Gov. Gualberto Lumauig of Ifugao, who took up local problems; Director of Prisons Alejo Santos, who discussed matters pertaining to his office; and former Gov. Madki Alonto.
In between these activities, the President as usual worked at his desk.
But they would not meet with Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile except in the U.P. [University of the Philippines] so there has been no meeting with them of the committee I organized of Sec. Enrile, Gen. [Mariano] Ordoñez and Col. [Fabian] Ver to meet with them.
I attach the note of Sec. Maceda on this.
The students are getting split. I attach the campus editorial and news clipping on this.
The Nica [National Intelligence Coordinating Agency] spot report is quite accurate. I attach it.
The farmers from Central Luzon under Max Fabian and Luis Taruc came to offer support to me. I enclose their resolution.
[Ignacio] Lacsina of the Socialist Party insisted that we should dissociate ourselves from the IMF [International Monetary Fund] and just notify the American creditors that we cannot pay and let them collect.
I told him I thought that he was afraid of the oligarchs and the newspapers. Because from my point of view he was giving a transparent excuse for his avoiding being identified with us.
But apparently he is playing for bigger stakes. He wants his socialist philosophy adopted.
The cause that we are now fighting is God-sent. And we now should work on the things that will immediately give relief to the masses of our people specially the lowering of the Meralco [Manila Electric Company] rates.
I meet the Solicitor General on this tomorrow.
Am now working on the State of the Nation address.