The four teams of the 4th IB [Infantry Battalion] led by Lt. Santos captured 100 M-14 rifles and 30 boxes of ammunition (7.62) as of 1840 today.
I suspect that the insurgents were able to carry out anywhere from 200 to 400 rifles and 20,000 rounds of ammunition assuming that the reported 200 settlers in Divinisa are NPA’s [New People’s Army] used as cargadores carrying two guns and 200 rounds of ammo each.
The Dumagats and other civilian cargadores are supposed to have abandoned the NPA’s from the shock of the rocket and machine gun bombardment as well as the 75 mm. shelling from the RPS Pangasinan. Some of them have been interrogated and they confirm the landings of arms, ammo and other supplies in May and June.
Some of them insist they saw a submarine surface and land the same equipment and supplies.
I attach in Envelope XXXI-C the reports on the Palanan battle.
But the reaction time of the troops was too long. Otherwise we might have captured all the arms.
I have ordered all reserves to Palanan for pursuit.
Brought Irene after golf to the kennels and the stables. In the latter I introduced the new horses, Rio, Naples, Riverview etc.
Met Gov. [Isidro] Rodriguez on the Marcos East-West Road (Mariquina-lnfanta) and a new parallel road to Epifanio de los Santos Ave. We will borrow from the Japanese Commodity Loan while the governor puts up to the counterpart funds from the excess income tax. In the East-West road I have set aside P30 M, one half from the loan and the other half from Rizal.
Caltex is again talking oil exploration and asking a 3.5 centavo increase in prices.
Phil. Historical Asso[ciation].
The Mindanao situation–Cong. [Indanan] Anni.
9:15 PM July 12, 1972[1]
Wednesday
1st MIG and Gen. [Tranquilino] Paranis report that witnesses now in the custody of the military testify to the fact that it took two days for them (some were forced to act as cargadores) unload the Karagatan; the estimated number of firearms—3,500, the ammo filled up a room 7×7 meters; the crew of vessel included two Chinese.
I have sent the media personnel to Palanan to cover the operations.
Confirmed casualties of government troops: three non-com’s and one enlisted man.
Enemy strength estimated at 400.
Our troops are pressing them from all sides. But the NPA’s [New People’s Army] seem to tenaciously cling to their entrenched position contrary to the guerrilla rule of never holding ground. They have been bombarded from the air and the sea again.
It is my feeling that they are waiting for their recruits to come in and carry out the firearms and ammo. The 300 men sighted coming from the direction of Ilagan crossing the high mountains may be such cargadores they are waiting for.
I have ordered mortars to be employed. The witnesses also refer to a cave where the NPA’s may be concealed with their supplies I have ordered a search for the cave.
And to block all routes of withdrawal. The personalities caught in the pocket are many and high ranking.
I attach all reports on the Palanan operations.
Declared the whole island of Luzon as a disaster area as all the national highways are under water and the report of damage from Typhoon Konsing, Edeng and now Gloring keep pouring in.
The reaction teams of the Dept. of Public Works have to keep transportation and communications moving.
I have prepared at P250 million Calamity bill for Congress which I will take up with the leaders in a luncheon conference tomorrow.
Imee arrived from London at 10:15 PM, more than three hours delayed. Foreign Minister [Adam] Malik of Indonesia and Pote Sarasin from Thailand arrived in the same plane for the Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] Foreign Ministers’ conference.
11:20 PM July 13, 1972[2]
Thursday
I directed more troops into Diguyo since the estimate of enemy strength is 500 men: 100 NE Diguyo under Comdr. Dencio (Victor Corpus) another 100 N Diguyo and 300 coming from direction of Ilagan. So at equivalent strength government troops should be 500. At the anti-guerrilla ratio of government troops to guerrillas of 4-1, the government should be 2,000 at least. I attach copy of order.
Two senators ([Leonardo] Perez and [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.]) visited the Diguyo creek. I attach the reports on the visit.
I also attach situation reports from Gen. [Romeo] Espino and Capt. Dalipe, liaison officer of PSU [Presidential Security Unit] at Palanan.
The movement is still slow and coordination very sloppy. Lt. de Leon of the Rangers is still at the shoreline and has not linked up with Lt. Santos who is being resupplied by helicopter and has no radio contact with ACP. And there is no diesel fuel for the tugboats used as transportation of the troops from Didadongan to Diguyo. Some of the company of marines from Ilocos Sur are still in Vigan and Tuguegarao. Only one helicopter is available to airlift the troops to Diguyo.
Planning and reaction slow and weak.
I also attach two reports assessing the documents captured by TF Saranay in Bo. [Barrio] Tarugsing, Cordon, Isabela containing the NPA [New People’s Army] Regional Plan of Action for 1972.
It suggests more troops for TF Saranay and possible Martial Law.
Luncheon Conference on Calamity Legislation and the entire legislative program with the legislative leaders.
12:00 PM July 14, 1972[3]
In the Palanan-Diguyo operations, the troops have taken the second camp where more guns (about 476 M-14, 503 boxes of ammo). 7.62 with 300 rds per box, 18 boxes of magazines for M-14 at 50 per box, 1 rocket launcher, 94 boxes of rocket launcher ammo at 6 rds per box, 2 BAR’s [Browning Automatic Rifle] and 5 Garand rifles.
I attach all reports.
Kuomintang Sec. Gen. with Sen. Jose Roy.
Gov. [Carlos] Camacho of Guam.
Sen. [Helena] Benitez.
Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.]
Com. [Baltazar] Aquino.
Speaker [Jose] Aldeguer.
Delegates.
ECG [electrocardiogram] by Dits [Juanita] Zagala.
11:15 PM July 15, 1972[4]
Saturday
Met the mayors of Ilocos Norte with governor, congressman, treasurer and auditor.
Distributed about P8 million of their share of the excess income tax which I have asked the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] to allocate.
Will do the same for the other provinces.
Before that met with the Sec. of National Defense, Chief of Staff and major service commanders on the establishment of naval stations at Bicobian Bay, Casiguran and San Vicente, airfields close to them, finish the road from Ilagan to Palanan as well as the Ysmael logging road from Maddela to south of Casiguran with the help of the loggers (had Sec. [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.] in the conference as well as Al Lim and Valeriano Bueno whose logging concession includes Palanan und south to Dagollorin River).
We have decided to organize a brigade from the 1st Regular Div. (Tabak) to sweep the eastern part of Isabela to capture the estimated 400 NPA’s [New People’s Army] who are up to now concealed thereat.
The boys that assaulted the 1st camp had to rest and the weather was foul.
Manila Times and Daily Mirror, Chronicle and ABS-CBN are belittling the Armed Forces as usual as well as the achievement of the discovery of the smuggling of firearms.
I announced today that the conspiracy for subversion, insurgency and rebellion is more alarming than we originally imagined. And we are reassessing the contingency plans of the military.
This will probably be given a big play tomorrow.
Although I did say that there is no reason for hysteria or panic because the Armed Forces can handle the situation.
In accordance with the decision this noon Task Force Palanan has been organized.
I attach copy of instructions.
11:50 PM July 16, 1972[5]
Sunday
Bongbong arrived from London at five minutes to eight tonight by PAL [Philippine Airlines] with Lord Headfort [Thomas Taylour, 6th Marquess of Headfort] of Ireland, the prospective husband of Nena [Virginia] Nable and a rich member of the House of Lords of England being one of five Marquises (The rankings are Prince, Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, Earl etc.????). [6]
Sec. of National Defense J. [Juan] Ponce Enrile reports after coming from Diguyo, Palanan and the first NPA [New People’s Army] camp that the NPA’s most probably succeeded in fleeing with more guns than we captured and the worse part is that in the NPA camps the boxes for rocket launchers were found but the contents had been apparently brought by the retreating NPA’s. This portends more serious and massive attacks on convoys, installations and perhaps urban centers.
One of the disturbing finds is large dry batteries, possibly mortars and according to Gomez who has a plane and actually saw the unloading of Karagatan, a wheeled gun (probably a mountain gun or a mortar) was unloaded in Divinisa.
So I have ordered the Ysmael road from Maddela as well as the Laur-Dingalan road to be closed so that no heavy equipment can be brought out.
In the meantime the sweep of the area starts tomorrow from Dingalan.
Some of the M-14 rifles were brought in Gen. [Jose] Rancudo tonight. We went to Base Operations to see them. They have only the markings M-14 with some kind of serial number but no manufacturers mark or country of origin.
Two months ago there was an Intelligence report of a big shipment of arms from Amsterdam. And some of the pulleys to bring the heavy equipment across the ravines were discovered. They are made in Norway.
Lt. Bautista of the UOU [Underwater Operations Unit] recovered 24 more M-14 rifles in the sea at Diguyo at 12 fathoms. They were wrapped in preservatives oil or grease. They could not recover the others (including ammo boxes) because there were sharks around.
Commander Pusa [Benjamin Sanguyo] has started to attack AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] installations in Capas, Concepcion and other towns in Tarlac. Apparently a diversion to keep the troops from Isabela.
I attach reports.
The media, specially the newspapers, have forfeited their right to freedom of the press. They have abused it to the point where they actually seek to falsify news.
The prime example is the “Karagatan” case and the fighting in Palanan.
There must be some way to prevent these irresponsible advocates of not press freedom but press tyranny from weakening the state and the democracy that gives them the liberty that their friends, the communists, seek to destroy.
[Joaquin] Chino Roces, Juan Mercado, [Amando] Doronila, [Ernesto] Granada, the ABS-CBN TV-radio group, Renato Constantino, even the Bulletin and the Herald are guilty of this abuse.
Our informants tell us that they have met and agreed to belittle the communist gun-running and the NPA training camp in Diguyo.
I have a clear conscience in fighting them.
10:20 PM July 17, 1972[7]
Monday
The SND [Secretary of National Defense], Chief of Staff and the Chief of all general services reviewed with me the plans for Isabela. I directed that Gen. [Tranquilino] Paranis must be brought down to the lowlands to block the movement of the fleeing NPA’s [New People’s Army] to the San Guillermo, Echague, Angadanan area. The road from Maddela, Quirino (Ysrnael logging road) must be blocked. And while the TF Palanan is attacking the second camp, another company under Lt. Col. Dizon (Prov. Commander of Isabela) must surround Divinisa which has a settlement of about 200 most of whom are allegedly NPA’s so that if they flee with their firearms during the bombardment (air and naval) they can be apprehended.
For I suspect that no enemy soldiers will be in the camp at Digollirin River. They will have fled by now perhaps westward or southward to Divinisa.
Palanan, probably, is also infiltrated by the NPA’s. And the new faces should be screened.
And air reconnaissance should try to locate the nearest logging camp and farm where the NPA’s from Digoyo could have run to for food and shelter.
I have ordered the establishment of three naval stations: San Vicente, Palanan (Bicobian Bay) and Casiguran. I ordered P500,000 to be released to the Navy and 12 Marcos prefabs for all purpose buildings.
Palanan airstrip must be lengthened and improved for the use of Fokkers and possibly jet fighters.
This noon I directed the Sec. of Public Works and the Com. on Highways to finish the Baler-Casiguran road and work on the Ilagan-Palanan road with the Army Engineers, connecting into the logging roads if any, as well as to improve the Appari-San Vicente road in Cagayan.
5,000 M-16’s must be acquired, 1,200 from MAP [Military Assistance Program] and 3,800 from Military Sales.
We must expedite the setting up of the small arms factory.
There must be an increase of the Marines, HDF [Home Defense Force], Tabak Division and the PC [Philippine Constabulary] which is at 40% strength and 15% armed with Armalites.
The M-14’s that were captured are apparently not U.S. made but may have been duplicated by the Chicoms [Chinese communists] or some foreign country. The wood as well as the metal is being studied.
Two of the BAR’s [Browning Automatic Rifle] captured in Diguyo (Nos. 602721 and 22280) were lost by the PMA [Philippine Military Academy] on 29 Dec. 70. This proves that the band was apparently led by [Victor] Corpus alias Ka Dencio
The captured rocket launcher is an RPG Rocket Propelled Grenade or M-40, a 40 mm. Russian model copied by the Chicom and used by the Vietcong. It is an anti-tank weapon. Penetration—11 to 18 inches of steel. Breaching—36 inches of reinforced concrete or 4 layers of sandbags (apparently 48 inches).
I attach the reports.
Another assassination plot is reported by Bob Garcia. A group including Eddie Figueras has asked a family to rent a house near St. Jude to be used as a sniping point as I cross the river to [Bahay] Pangarap.
9:45 July 18, 1972[8]
Tuesday
Raining since yesterday and Luzon including Manila is flooded all over again. The Tarlac dike in San Miguel has been washed away. Even the children are marooned at Gov. [Benjamin] Romualdez’s house.
Lt. de Leon reports that the troops in Diguyo have found a field switchboard and twelve field telephones.
The NPA’s [New People’s Army] certainly have been training and equipping themselves well for a revolution.
They are better trained and equipped than expected. This makes the situation more serious than even I expected.
Lunched with Sen. Arturo Tolentino. He himself believes as he reiterated that during this period a dictatorship is necessary in the Philippines.
I asked him whom he would recommend for a Revolutionary Council. And we could not find in any of the contemporary leaders.
I informed him of the seriousness of the situation.
Sen. [Lorenzo] Teves told me tonight that even Sen. Ninoy [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] observed in confidence that the discovery in Palanan shows that NPA’s pose a threat more serious than we think.
Everyone seems to be wondering whether I will declare martial law.
A time bomb was discovered in the Senate. It was napalm in an attaché case set in the publications division and loaded with napalm, set to explode 9:00 PM tonight.
11:35 PM July 19, 1972[9]
Wednesday
We have one of the worst floods in years[10]. Almost all of Western Luzon is under water. While Typhoon Gloring is leaving to the NE (1,500 kms. away) and merely skirted the Philippines sucking in the SW monsoon causing the precipitation, there is a new typhoon (Phyllis is the international name for Gloring and the new typhoon is named Tess) also about 1,500 kms. east of Phyllis or Gloring. So we expect the rains to continue.
Our Helicopters flew rescue and relief missions following the national highway. But visibility is zero and the Clark Field helicopters did not fly.
Even trucks could not move because some parts of the road like Carmen, Rosales and Dinalupihan are under four feet of water.
Malacañan is under water. The Heroes Hall and the entrance are under one foot of water.
I attach the reports.
Even Madame Tatyana Nikolaeva had to ride in a Sierra Lakes comby, to come to the palace for a courtesy call and for lunch.
As of now 166 are dead from the flood and all our rice plantings are a complete loss in Central Luzon the rice granary.[11]
11:55 PM July 20, 1972[12]
Thursday
The flood has become worse and threatens to continue for the next several days because of a high pressure area northeast of the two depressions preventing them from moving away.
Clark Air Force Base still has not flown its big Chinook helicopters but the C-119 and C-130 have flown to NAB [Nichols Air Base] to pick up nutribuns for distribution in the isolated areas.
But a helicopter carrier (the Tripoli) with 20 helicopters with three other smaller ships, a Landing Platform Dock, Landing Ship Dock and Landing Ship Tank is arriving in 36 hours to help out.
And two DART’s (Disaster and Relief Teams) are coming from Okinawa.
Only one helicopter out of three that flew out to Pangasinan reached Lingayen. It was plotted by Cols. Macabuhay and David.
Another helicopter (my back-up helicopter) ferried Cong. [Eduardo] Danding Cojuangco [Jr.] to Paniqui, Tarlac arriving there at 4:30 PM.
The water of Lingayen Gulf seems to be connected by a body of water to Manila. Bay. And the water is still rising.
I attach the reports.
10:55 PM July 21, 1972[13]
Friday
Helicoptered to Central Luzon for a survey. Passed by Basa and Clark Air Bases.
The water has receded from Pampanga and Bulacan but Tarlac and Pangasinan are still under water. Some people are still clinging to rooftops and treetops. They had to be rescued by helicopter.
Towns are isolated. That [not] only food but potable water are in great demand.
The DART [Disaster and Relief Teams] teams under Col. King arrived 40 minutes before me. The Tripoli and its three smaller ships (The Tripoli, a helicopter carrier may carry twenty five helicopters) are arriving tomorrow at 8:00 AM.
Basa Air Base will be the operations center where all the supplies will be ferried by plane.
Tomorrow I fly by helicopter to Basa and Clark then to Lingayen and around Pangasinan.
I attach reports.
A USAF [United States Armed Forces] Green Giant was shot at by an AK-47 at Bo. [Barrio] San Francisco, Banban, Tarlac. Commander Pusa [Benjamin Sanguyo] is operating there. An engine was shot.
Last night there was an unpleasant incident with Imee (we thought she was ill-mannered but I was irritable and hot headed) who later apologized but her mother had punished her and the two are not talking to each other.
Lt. Abao did well in the fight at San Mariano. He killed two NPA’s [New People’s Army] and captured one Max Soriano a Muslim who is now spilling the beans.
I was correct in my estimate of the route of withdrawal and rate of travel of the NPA flushed out of Diguyo—they would move south then west to Pigcanawan de Ilagan River and reach San Mariano in seven days.
They were flushed out by bombardment on the 10th. On the 18th they were attacking a detachment in San Mariano.
And they are grouping in their camp at Grid 97-68 on the big map at the junction of the Pigcanawan de Ilagan River.
I am glad I ordered Gen. [Tranquilino] Paranis to return to Echague TF [Task Force] Saranay Hq. He was brought by Gen. [Romeo] Espino from Palanan on the 17th.
The organization of another task force, TF Palanan under Gen. [Rafael] Zagala, PA [Philippine Army] Commander and its operations in the area from Palanan south to Diguyo, Digollorin and Divinisa was intended to stop any movement southward from Diguyo.
Then Gen. T. [Tranquilino] Paranis of TF Saranay was moved with enough men back Echague so as to trap the men coming down from the Sierra Madre.
This is what has happened. The men who were caught (5 were caught yesterday—this has also appeared in the Herald, July 22nd) and Max Soriano caught after being wounded in the fight at San Mariano with the detachment of Lt Abao.
And he has revealed that the group at the Pigcanawan de Ilagan River is led by Ka Lenin or Dencio (Victor Corpus), numbers 60 and they are waiting for more men so that they can build up their forces to 200 men and can then attack the supposedly depleted PC [Philippine Constabulary] detachments in the lowlands of Isabela around San Mariano, Angadanan, San Guillermo, Echague and Jones.
Little do they known that we have prepared Gen. [Tranquilino] Paranis with a strong force to hit them in their own incompetent!
[1] THE PRESIDENT met with the National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Committee at the Pangarap Guest House. Following the conference, the President proclaimed the entire island of Luzon as under a state of calamity. (See pp. 5718-A 5718-C for full text of the President’s proclamation.) The President also called the leaders of both Houses of Congress to a conference at Malacañang, as well as urged Congress to pass a special calamity bill appropriating P250 million for relief and rehabilitation during the special session. Present at the conference were Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. and Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, Public Works Secretary David M. Consunji, Social Welfare Secretary Estefania Aldaba-Lim, Health Secretary. Clemente Gatmaitan, Deputy Budget Commissioner Juan Agcaoili, Public Highways Commissioner Baltazar Aquino, Finance Undersecretary Pedro Almaiizor, Public Works Director Alejandro Deleña, Director Carlos Leaño of the Infrastructure Operations Center, Col. Tapia of the NDCC, and others. The President spent the rest of the day keeping close tabs on developments in the flooded areas and working on state papers in his private study.
[2] Official Gazette for July 13, 1972: THE PRESIDENT met with congressional leaders and Cabinet members at a luncheon in Malacañang to pave the way for the early approval of a calamity bill, which seeks the appropriation of P250 million. The President strongly urged that action be taken immediately on the measure “in view of the calamities which have been so pervasive as to have affected the entire country.” He further added that the approval of the calamity bill should include not only the repair of destroyed infrastructure, “but also the establishment of the means by which to diminish such destruction and damage.” Among those present at the conference were Senate President Gil J. Puyat, Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Majority Floor Leader Arturo Tolentino, Senate President Protempore Jose J. Roy, Senator Lorenzo Teves, Rep. Marcelino Veloso, Finance Secretary Cesar K. A. Virata, Public Works Secretary David Consunji, Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, Deputy Budget Commissioner Juan Agcaoili. In the course of his work on state papers later in the day, the President issued an executive order changing the constitution of the Presidential Investigation and Recovery Commission so as to facilitate the work of this body charged with effecting the collection and recovery of monies and properties of government firms. The commission, as reconstituted, would have the secretary of justice as chairman, the RCA chairman-general manager as vice chairman, and the solicitor general and a representative each of the auditor general and the Philippine National Bank, as members.
[3] Official Gazette for July 14, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS received Chen Pao, secretary-general of the Kuomintang Party of Nationalist China. During their brief meeting, the President said that the landing of arms and ammunition in Palanan, Isabela, established the fact that the local communists are no longer an isolated indigenous group but part of an international conspiracy. The President also requested the Kuomintang secretary-general to convey to President and Madame Chiang Kai-shek and their son his warm personal regards. Chen Pao was accompanied by Ambassador Liu-Chi Y. C. Chen, director of the department of overseas affairs; and Chang Yu-sheng, deputy director of youth affairs of the Supreme Committee of the Kuomintang. The President also received Governor Carlos G. Camacho of Guam who likewise paid his respects to the President following his arrival. He was accompanied to Malacañang by Jose Q. Taitan and Kenneth Blasczyk, special assistants; Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., and Ambassador Jose Estrada. Other callers included Sen. Helena Z. Benitez, who submitted a report on her mission abroad. Senator Benitez arrived from Stockholm, Sweden where she attended the United Nations conference on human environments as well as from the People’s Republic of China. Pressure of deal work prevented the President from attending the inauguration and blessing of the Asian Reinsurance building in Makati and the closing ceremonies of the National Science and Technology Week. The President asked Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. to deliver his speeches for both occasions. In the evening, the President received Brig. Gen. Fidel Ramos, PC chief, who informed him that government troops captured the first NPA camp in Palanan, Isabela after a four-hour uphill trek by the troopers from the beach at Digoyo.
[4] Official Gazette for July 15, 1972: THE PRESIDENT conferred in the afternoon with Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and military top brass on the updating of military contingency plans. Present at the conference held at the President’s private study, were General Romeo Espino, AFP chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Fidel Ramos, PC chief; and Brig. Gen. Rafael Zagala, PA commander. The President spent the whole morning on state papers and other matters of state, notably the development plans for harbor and airport facilities in Luzon.
[5] Official Gazette for July 16, 1972: THE PRESIDENT accompanied by Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. and Plant Industry Director Eliseo Carandang, boarded the presidential Fokker plane at 7 a.m. at Nichols Air Base and conducted an aerial survey of Bulacan, Rizal, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan and part of Zambales. Following the survey, the President decided to push through passage of the ₱250 million special calamity fund and the regional typhoon moderation project in Asia. At the same time, the President directed Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo to lodge a strong protest against the holding of nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific. Some Filipino scientists believe such tests affect the weather conditions of the regions. The President also ordered a restudy of the plans for the proposed Labangan Channel as an exit for flood waters in the Pampanga—Bulacan area, as well as the rushing of the Chico and Upper Pampanga (Pantabangan) river control projects. In the evening, the President and the First Lady, together with their two daughters, motored to the Manila International Airport (MIA) to meet their son Ferdinand Jr. (Bongbong), who planed in from London to spend his summer vacation here.
[6] The actual ranking in descending order is Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron.
[7] Official Gazette for July 17, 1972: THE PRESIDENT focused on matters concerning relief and rehabilitation work in Central Luzon before receiving his morning callers. At 11 a.m. the President repaired to the Ceremonial Hall and conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor (degree of officer) on Col. Philipp F Sears, outgoing commander of the U.S. Office of Special Investigation in this country. Col. Sears was cited “for meritorious and outstanding services to the Republic of the Philippines, as head of specialized training units of the United States Air Force in 1966 and 1969 and as Commander of the Office of Special Investigation in the Philippines.” After the conferment rites held at the Malacañang Ceremonial Hall, the President administered the oath of office to Associate Justice Eloy Bello of the Court of Appeals, following confirmation of the hitter’s nomination by the Commission on Appointments. In the afternoon the President and the First Lady received the crew of the MV Logos, headed by Capt. Mjorn Kristianson and members of their families whom they invited for merienda at Malacañang when they visited the “floating library.”
[8] Official Gazette for July 18, 1972: THE PRESIDENT conferred the ancient Order of Sikatuna, rank of Datu, on Ambassador Hashim bin Sultan of Malaysia, in recognition of his services in the field of international relations. The President cited the Malaysian ambassador as a worthy spokesman of his government who had endeavored continuously to strengthen the ties of friendship between his country and the Philippines. In accepting the award, Ambassador Hashim bin Sultan said that in his two-year’s stay in the country, he had the deep sense of satisfaction in enjoying the hospitality, the cooperation and valuable assistance given to him by the Filipino people. Present at the award ceremony, which was held at the Malacañang Ceremonial Hall, were Secretary Carlos P. Romulo and Undersecretary Manuel Collantes of Foreign Affairs, Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes who read the citation, and chiefs of the diplomatic corps, including Mons. Carmine Rocco, papal Nuncio; Ambassadors Henry Byroade of the United States, Toshio Urabe of Japan, James Charles Ingram of Australia, John Curie of Great Britain, Kusno Utomo of Indonesia, Se Ryu Kim of Korea, and Richard Taylor of New Zealand. Toward noon, the President received the delegates of foreign countries to the 11th session of the ECAFE Asian Statisticians confab held in Manila who paid him a courtesy call. The President told the delegates of the efforts of the Philippines towards modernization of security and development reforms, the restructuring of society and the forward movement of culture, as well as of widening the areas of freedom, liberty and initiative for every man. The President also said that statistics may be dry and uninteresting but to the decision makers, chiefs of state, and heads of government they are of the greatest importance for it is on them that decisions are based. In the afternoon, the President concentrated on desk work. Because of reports on the extensive damage caused by heavy rains and floods in Central Luzon, the President went on the air late in the evening to assure the people that the government would use all available, resources to alleviate the sufferings of typhoon and flood victims.
[9] Official Gazette for July 19, 1972: THE PRESIDENT ordered non-stop rescue and relief operations, including the use of all available craft and equipment from the Armed Forces. In addition, the President released ₱3 million more for emergency operations as he kept himself posted on the extent of damage from reports of the National Disaster Coordinating Council and aerial surveys conducted by Cabinet members and Presidential aides. The President appealed to all citizens to stay in their homes unless pressing business require their presence outside. The President sent helicopters to rescue missions in Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Pampanga, three of the hardest hit provinces because of the bursting of the dikes in these area. The President placed the four departments—Department of National Defense, Department of Social Welfare, Department of Health and Department of Public Works and Communications—on a 24-hour duty. He also directed the NDCC to acknowledge and make arrangements for the dispatch of vehicles such as helicopters and amphibian trucks being offered by various sources, so that these could be utilized fully for the relief and rehabilitation effort. Early in the afternoon, the President and the First Lady honored at luncheon Madame Tatyana Nikolaeva, deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, who arrived in Manila for a 10-day visit as representative of the Union of Soviet Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with other countries. The President worked on official papers and followed up relief and rescue operations in the evening.
[10] One of the worst flooding in the Philippines occurred in July 1972 when it rained non-stop for about 30 days beginning with typhoon “ Edeng ” on July 6, 1972 followed by supertyphoon “ Gloring ” that stayed for about ten days and in its tail brought her sisters, typhoons: Huaning , Isang, and Konsing .
[11] The second page of this entry [p.2204] is missing.
[12] Official Gazette for July 20, 1972: THE PRESIDENT issued Proclamation No. 1049, authorizing Secretary of National Defense and, in his behalf the respective provincial commanders in Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija Pangasinan and Bataan to requisition and thereupon immediately distribute such necessary private supplies of foodstuffs as are needed for the survival of flood victims in these provinces; and Proclamation No. 1050 authorizing the AFP Chief of Staff, and, in his behalf the commanders of the major services of the AFP, to utilize and avail of private watercraft, vehicles and other equipment for rescue arid relief operations in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Bataan. Among other actions relative to the calamity, the President ordered a thorough review of logging operations m Central Luzon with an eye to the possible cancellation of timber licenses in the area to save the remaining forests and prevent the recurrence of worse floods in the future. At the same time, the President directed Agriculture Secretary Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. to prepare an effective distribution plan so that rice seedlings may be distributed to all the areas where rice crops had been destroyed. In the evening, the President met with newsmen covering Malacañang who inquired on the flood situation and relief operations in flood-stricken areas.
[13] Official Gazette for July 21, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS boarded a helicopter in the morning for an aerial survey of the flooded areas. The President flew low over the flooded towns of Bulacan and Pampanga and took a close look at the breached dikes and impassable highways. The first stop of the President was at Basa Air Base where he visited some 300 barrio residents who sought refuge inside the camp from the floods. After inquiring into their conditions and instructing the base officials to attend to their needs, the President flew to nearby Clark Air Force Base to see how the relief and rescue operations were going on. The President was briefed by Clark Air Force officials headed by General Marvin McNickle, commanding general of the 13th Air Force. Among those who met the President at CAFB were Cols. Henry C. Gordon, base commander; Stanley Bailey, in charge of CAFB rescue work; Major Henry King, commander of DART rescue, relief and rehabilitation teams; Col. A. G. Villanueva of the Philippine Air Force, Major Laudemer B. Kahulugan and Lt. Col. R. D. Fernando. In the course of his trip, the President ordered the establishment of relief distribution centers in Pampanga and Pangasinan. Ordered put up were one distribution center at Basa Air Base, one at Clark Air Force Base, and another at Lingayen, Pangasinan.The President also directed the armed forces teams engaged in relief and rescue operations, in cooperation with the local authorities, to force open the bodegas of the Rice and Corn Administration in order to be able to distribute the rice to the flood victims. The President said that 10 helicopters on flying missions all over Central Luzon had been picking up children and women from rooftops and treetops. From Clark Field, the President flew back to Manila arriving in Malacañang at 5 p.m. After a short rest, the President met with newsmen covering Malacañang.