Bongbong left by Qantas via Hongkong, New Delhi, Teheran, Athens and London.
I talked to him and his sisters, Imelda and Kokoy [Benjamin Romualdez] about the possibility of his mother and two sisters joining him if there should be trouble here; that whether I am there beside them or not they (the children) should value education and get a doctorate degree because even if we should lose our fortune and position here in the Philippines, then they could make their own way in this world; that if for any reason we
Official Gazette for January 9, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS directed the Price Control Council to establish whether there is a prima facie case for the oil companies to increase the price of gasoline. He gave the order to the council after meeting in the morning with oil executives who were summoned to Malacañang in the wake of the transportation strike arising from the price hike.
The President ordered Secretary of Commerce and Industry Ernesto Maceda, concurrently Price Control Council action officer, to find out at the hearings of the council whether added costs allegedly incurred by the companies would justify confirmation or suspension of the price increase.
The President deplored the fact that the prices of oil and gasoline had been increased even before the council had a chance to take up the recommendation of Manila City Mayor Antonio J. Villegas for the increase in prices of gasoline by two centavos, and diesel oil by three centavos per liter.
The President asked the oil executives to extend to the council maximum cooperation in seeking to resolve the issue.
The President also directed:
1. Central Bank Governor Gregorio S. Licaros and the Board of Investments to appear at the council’s hearings and testify; on the supposed additional costs being incurred by oil companies and which were being used as basis for increasing prices by the same companies.
2. Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata to finish in 90 days a close investigation into the books of accounts of the oil companies to determine once and for all the margin of profit being made by these companies.
The President also directed the Public Service Commission through Chairman Jose Evangelista to apprehend all public carriers whose non-operation would be violative of the Public Service Law.
The President reminded Evangelista that the Commission is empowered to withdraw certificate of conveniences from operators of public vehicles violating the terms of their certificates.
He also asked the commissioner to help government authorities gather and bring evidence against certain parties reported to have been collecting unauthorized “fees” from taxi drivers.
Evangelista had submitted names of these parties to the President and the latter endorsed these names to the appropriate investigating agencies.
Present at the conference were J. J. Wolahan and Francis Ablan of Caltex, P. J. Crumbine of Mobil Oil, J. Chuidian of Filoil, T. E. Wallace of ESSO, E. L. Shepley of Getty Oil, Emil Cowing of Shell Company, and Ramon V. del Rosario of Filoil.
Before the meeting with the oil executives, the President had a huddle with Secretary Virata, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Governor Licaros, Secretary Maceda and Chairman Evangelista.
The President devoted the whole afternoon to desk work.
In the evening, the President and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda U. Marcos sent off master Ferdinand Jr. to London to resume his schooling.
Together with Imee and Irene, and close friends, the First Family motored to the Manila International Airport, arriving there at about 6 p.m.
should be separated and I should not be able to guide them after normalcy returns to the world or the Philippines as the case may be, they should return to the Philippines where their roots are; that I would prefer their marrying Filipinos.
Spent the afternoon preparing the records and money he and Kokoy would bring to London.
Spent the whole morning with the oil refineries representatives who as I expected could not budge although they did apologize.
The buses and jeepneys are running normally but I asked PSC [Public Service Commission] Chairman [Jose] Evangelista to punish those who were not following their franchise by going out.
And asked Sec. [Ernesto] Maceda to finish the confirmation of the] Villegas rates today.
Maceda, who is an aspirant for senator, wanted to delay and even cut the rate to 1½ centavo. Bung [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.] called up tonight asking if they could not give the increase by degrees. I did not approve this.
I believe that the answer to all these problems is a government-controlled oil refinery in partnership with any of the Middle East countries. I attach such a proposal.