Monday
I reiterated today to two interviewers, Mrs. ______ of Bangkok and Paul Miller, son Rand and John Nance that rather than the U.S. employing ground troops in the Philippines in the event of massive subversion (Vietnam-type) under the Mutual Defense Treaty, the U.S. should now agree to a long range plan of training and equipment of Philippine troops to take over some of the burdens that the U.S. now shoulders in the Philippines.
And we must now make a total review of our ties with the U.S.—in the economic and military fields.
Next Friday I will ask Sec. [Carlos] Romulo to sound out other governments specially Japan on what the [Richard] Nixon announcement of a visit to Red China means to Asian countries.
And we probably should review all the assumptions that were the basis of the negotiations of the on-going updating of the Military Bases agreement.
A meeting of the Mutual Defense Board should now be called to prepare such a long range plan of training and reequipping.
Or the National Security Council—or the Foreign Policy Council.
I should now order the Sec. of Foreign Affairs to prepare to recommend to the Foreign Policy Council the position to be adopted or the entry of Red China into the UN [United Nations].
Will not the sudden friendship between the U.S. and China stimulate Russia into an escalation of the Arms race? This question has also occurred to Amb. [Henry] Byroade. He said so to me at the party of Ricky and Helen Cu-Unjieng this evening (I left Imelda and the children there as I seemed to be breaking down with a cold).
I have inducted into office Asst. Executive Secretary [Ponciano] Mathay and Chairman of the Board of Examiners for Certified Public Accountants Luis Vera. Allid had not yet sold his transportation contract with Shell in Leyte so I could not swear him in.
Have been busy the whole day with congressmen and governors. Swore some Liberals into the Nationalist Party (Pampanga) and met the Northern congressmen this afternoon.
Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile reported to me that the Cotabato situation is under control and that Ex. Gov. Udtog Matalam is begging to be called for a conference; that Cong. [Salipada] Pendatun says he is not running for the Senate in the Liberal party slate.
There is no fear of further disorders.
10:05 PM July 20, 1971[1]
Tuesday
I must have shocked the Sugar Club headed by Antonio Roxas Chua when I announced that the fast developing international situation of the new era of flexibility may produce the situation where “there may no longer be on American market for Philippine sugar.” So we must now plan for this.
This statement was made in an atmosphere of hilarity and exuberance as the news in the US Senate seems to favor our hoping that the sugar quota will not be cut too much (as of now only about 10%). And it sobered up all the sugar men.
For I explained that flexibility of policy may mean that the U.S. may ultimately pull out of Asia.
So like the soldier who prays for the best but prepares for the worst, we must now prepare for the worst.
And I explained that the extension of the Sugar act is only for three years. At the most we should plan for the American market to last another five years.
This immediately sobered up and silenced everyone.
It is necessary also to transmit the feeling of urgency, to the sugar people. They are the most pampered industry. And they practically have done nothing to diversify and make production cheaper and more efficient.
I asked them to now sit down and submit their recommendations.
I intend to keep on warning everyone about the dangers of the new era.
For prudence now dictates that we prepare for any eventuality.
The Millers left this morning at 8:00 AM to catch a PAL [Philippine Air Lines] 9:00 AM flight to Hongkong. I attach Paul’s letter.
I met all the mayors and chairmen of the towns of Bulacan, as well as Gov. [Ignacio] Santiago, the Vice Gov. Board Members, and Alex Santos.
Almost all of them are for the reelection of Gov. Santiago.
Appointed Dr. [Robert] Fox as Presidential Assistant on Anthropology.
Also met the leaders of Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya. Yesterday I asked the leaders of Kalinga-Apayao and Ifugao to settle their disputes.
I am ordering the banning of DDT [Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane] for agricultural products. It now seems to be a cause for leukemia.
And some drugs are coming into the country which have not been approved by the governments of the source.
It is ironical that the most vicious attacks against me have come after I sought to implement the Reform Program:
On Media—I stopped the monthly dues given to commentators, columnists and reporters including editors which was started by Pres. [Ramon] Magsaysay on a large scale.
The Lopezes and the oligarchs—I stopped the special privileged, licenses, concessions, permits and favors that meant more money for them.
Political reforms – I stopped the unusual “allowances” to some congressmen (the Speaker, ([Jose B.] Laurel) used to get a monthly allowance of P240,000 and a trip allowance of $100,000 or more) all of such allowances resulting in a deficit which I had to make good of P26 million.
Land Reform against the landlords
Tax Reform transferring the burden to the rich.
But I was aware of the consequences of the reforms. And we just have to pay the price and bear the burden of calumny.
However, this confirms the theory that one should not try to initiate too many reforms at the same time. Although if one would be revolutionary, why not?
There are causes for the spate of criticisms that have surfaced lately.
The [Felipe] Ysmael case—the retaliation by the Jacinto family.
The Buddha case—retaliation by the Laurels.
The cartoons of Chronicle—retaliation of Lopezes.
The Graphic and Nation—the bid by [Gerardo] Roxas for the Presidency.
The demonstrations—The [Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.] carry over of bitterness from his defeat in the 1969 elections.
11:30 AM July 21, 1971[2]
Wednesday
The Finance Committee of the U.S. Senate has farther cut our sugar quota by 76,000 tons. And the chances of any recovery from this [sic] cuts are slim. So now while our present quota is 1,503,000 we are now brought down to 1,300,264.
It seems that it does not pay to be friendly to the U.S. nor to be its ally.
So I have directed that we now review all the treaties with the U.S. specially the military treaties. ·
We must now assume that since that U.S. is withdrawing from South Vietnam because of pressure of public opinion, then she would not be a dependable ally in the event of massive subversion or external aggression.
So I have directed the military to prepare plans to train and re-equip our Armed Forces so that we can defend our country in ten years. We must now presume that the U.S. will withdraw from the Philippines in ten years.
We should now seek the termination of the military bases in the Philippines in not more than ten years.
This will mean that we will have to finance our own defense requirements and this will be hard. But we have to do it now that the U.S. is ready to help us prepare.
The Anti-Communist League meeting tomorrow is certainly badly timed. And I have to open it and give a reception in the evening.
11:50 PM July 22, 1971[3]
Thursday
Decoration by the Sovereign Order of Malta with their highest decoration for a Chief of State.
Addressed the World Anti-Communist League which came to see me after the decoration at 11:00 AM.
Met the Australian Labor leader of Parliament, Mr. [Gough] Whitlam, and talked of Red China which he visited two days before Pres. [Richard] Nixon announced his visit to Peking. I told him and the Australian ambassador that our country was gravely concerned by the possibility that the Nixon visit may lead to the recognition of Red China by the U.S. Then Red China would have a legal and a moral right to claim and take over Taiwan. Then Red China would be our next door neighbor. She would also claim the Spratley Islands which is close to us. She would be a threat to our country.
Then added to the present danger of internal subversion would be the fear of external aggression.
So we must now prepare for this.
Then met the Rural Self-Employment Committee of Sec. [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.].
And in the afternoon at 2:00 PM I addressed the Anti Communist League at the SSS [Social Security System] auditorium. I announced that the issue of communism will be submitted to the November 1971 elections for resolution by our people who, I am confident, will vote communism down as a way of life.
Actually written at July 23, 1971[4]
11:00 PM, July 24, 1971 Friday
I write this at the Poro Point Beach House as I stayed up to 3:00 AM talking to Elizabeth on the Ilocos Norte political situation. Mrs. Manuela Ablan is planning to run against her. This would split the Nacionalista Party and be a reflection on me. But if Beth withdraws, this would be giving way to coercion by the Ablans.
So I have asked Cong. [Roque] Ablan [Jr.] and Cong. [Simeon] Valdez to bring Mrs. Ablan to Malacañang on Wednesday, July 28, 1971 for a settlement. Mrs. Ablan says Beth could not win at all. Of course this is an exaggeration but I do not wish to be tied down to Ilocos Norte.
Whatever it is, both Cong. Ablan and Valdez bear watching. They have acted with some degree of treachery and malice in the case.
[1] Official Gazette for July 20, 1971: P resident Marcos was guest of honor and speaker at the induction the elected officers of the Sugar Club of the Philippines, held at “the Philsugin auditorium in Quezon City. In his speech, the President said that the change in American policy means “that every Asian nation and leader must now review the basis all the agreements between the United States and their respective countries,” and must prepare themselves for all eventualities, including the possibility of an American pullout from Asia. The President said that the new U.S. policies require an overall study for long-range implementation of the military, and possibly economic treaties the Philippines has with the U.S. It has also been suggested by some, he said, that the Philippines should plan on the possibility of complete withdrawal of the U.S. from Asia. The President stated while the U.S. State Department has sent word that President Nixon’s visit to Red China does not mean any prejudice to her allies, the President said this alternation in U.S. policy calls for a review of agreements with the United States. “With these policies of the American government and of Red China anything is possible in Asia, and we must prepare for anything,” he said. “We must now predict, no matter how difficult and how hard it may be, what will happen in the next five years, in the next ten years, in the next twenty years.” Before delivering his 45-minute address, the President inducted the officers of the club, led by Antonio Roxas Chua, president. Also present at the luncheon meeting were Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., PHILSUGIN Chairman Luis Tirso Rivilla, Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Sen. Ambrosio Padilla, Constitutional Convention Delegate Carlos Ledesma.
[2] Official Gazette for July 21, 1971: P resident Marcos received important personages among other callers, and presided at the ceremony whereby the letters of credence of Ambassador Tiao Khan Hing as new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Laos to the Philippines were presented. The new Laotian envoy also presented to the President the letter of recall of his predecessor, Ambassador Leuam Rajasombat, during the ceremony held at the Malacañang Ceremonial Hall. After the presentation ceremony, the President started receiving callers first of whom were the members of the Korean delegation to the joint conferences in Manila of the Anti-Communist League of Asia and of the World. Led by 80-year old General Lee Eung-Joon, and accompanied by Korean Ambassador Se Ryun Kun, the Korean group included Admiral Sohn Won-II, Generals Choi Duk-Shin and Shin Hyun-Joon, former Vice Foreign Minister Lee Won-Kyung, Director Hub Baek of the Korean Anti-Communist League and Moon C. Park. The President took the occasion to request the delegation to convey his best wishes for the success of President Park Chung Hee and his congratulation for the remarkable economic progress and valuable contribution of Korea to the defense of freedom. He also received the foreign delegates to the recently held conference of the Asian Parliamentary Union who called to say goodbye before leaving for their respective countries. Those who paid their respects to the President were Delegates Kuo-Chi Yeh Shin-chin and Charles Z. Yeo of China; Yoshiharu Takeno and Yochiro Kubo of Japan; Pheng Shahanikone and Sisisphanh Phoenpradit of Laos; Mr. and Mrs. Suchon Charmpoonod of Thailand; and Nguyen Huy Chien, Chairman of the Asian Development Center, and Tran Ngoc Danh and Tran Do Cung of Vietnam. The foreign delegations were accompanied by Emmanuel Yap, secretary general of the conference, who informed the President that the APU has included in its agenda a study of the political and economic repercussions resulting from the projected visit of U.S. President Richard Nixon to Red China. The President said that all the countries of the world are now busy reassessing their own economic, military and political polices in the light of fast moving developments like the adoption of a flexible policy by both the United States and Red China. After receiving scheduled callers, the President swore into office some 30 new appointees, mostly to the judiciary. In the afternoon, the President concentrated on office work. Among other actions : 1.Directed the Free Trade Zone Authority to set aside 30 hectares to accommodate a Ford car manufacturing complex, which would turn out Asian Ford cars with a Filipino name starting 1972. The President issued the order after being informed by W. O. Bourke, president of Ford Asia-Pacific, of the project. Bourke made a courtesy call in the morning after his arrival here on a business visit. 2.Proclaimed July 22, a special public holiday in Batangas province and in the cities of Batangas and Lipa, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini, the Sublime paralytic. 3. Issued an administrative order requiring Commissioner of Civil Service Abelardo Subido to resign three days from the receipt of the order, otherwise, he would be considered resigned upon the expiration of that period. The President’s order was the upshot of an administrative charge filed against Commissioner Subido by Faustino Tugade, former CSC legal officer, for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, particularly for entering into contracts grossly disadvantageous to the government. The Presidential Investigating Committee headed by Dr. Gaudencio Garcia, chairman which was assigned to investigate the case, found Commissioner Subido guilty of the charge.
[3] Official Gazette for July 22, 1971: H ighlighting President Marcos’ schedule was his keynote speech at the opening of the joint conference of the World Anti-Communism League and the Asian Peoples’ Anti-Communist League, and the presentation of the Order of Malta award, Colar Pro Merito Malitenza the highest decoration given by that entity to foreign heads of state. Briefly, the President’s day had the following high points: 1 Presentation of award to the President by Minister Jose Soriano of the Order of Malta. In his brief remarks, the President said: “I receive this award not only on my behalf,” the President said, “but on behalf of the entire people and government of the Republic, since I presume this award has been given in recognition of the good work in which our people and government are engaged.” The President received the award in the presence of several Knights of Malta including Vice Consul Justo Lopez, Ernesto Rufino, Sebastian Ugarte and Daniel Vasquez. Also present were the First Lady, Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, and children Imee, Irene and Bongbong. 2. Courtesy call of Gough Wh itlam, opposition leader of Australia, who had come from Red China. Hitlam exchanged impressions with the President on the effects and implications of the change in foreign policy of the U. S. and China. 3. Courtesy call of delegates to the joint conference of the World Anti-Communist League and Asian Anti-Communist League. 4. Courtesy call of representatives of the Filipino Alumni Association of Los Angeles, who requested the establishment of a PNB branch in that city where some 70,000 Filipinos live and work. They pointed out that the PNB has branches in San Francisco and New York City where there are fewer Filipinos. The President promised to endorse their request to the PNB board. Those who called included Antonio M. San Jose, president; Dr. Lina B. Navarro, crowned Mrs. Philippines of Los Angeles; and Dr. Rolando Navarro, president, Philippine Medical Society of Southern California. 5. Meeting with Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. on the rice situation. 6. At.2 p.m. the President addressed the joint conference of the Anti-Communists League at the SSS Building, Quezon City. Among other actions, the President directed Secretary of Justice Jose Abad Santos to render an opinion on whether the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) can legally make public significant data on all loans and guarantees extended by it since the beginning of his administration on January 1, 1966, as well as those granted under all previous administrations. The President made this move upon the suggestion of Central Bank Gov. Gregorio S. Licaros, who wrote the President expressing his concern over the trend of congressional investigations of banks, notably the DBP. The President also took steps to alleviate the critical food situation and arrest the spiralling prices of rice. In his conference with Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. and representatives of other government agencies involved in rice production, the President directed that immediate action be taken to alleviate the rice problem. The President told Secretary Tanco that provincial governors, city and municipal mayors continue to complain about critical rice deficiencies and soaring prices in their regions. “Let us do something about this situation,” the President said want a report on the action you have taken.” In another directive to Secretary Tanco, Secretary of Health Amadeo H. Cruz and the administrator of the Food and Drug Administration, the President ordered that: 1. Henceforth the use of DDT as an insecticide for agricultural crops would be prohibited; 2. No permits would be given to new drugs from abroad for use by the public or for sale in the Philippines unless it is shown that the drug is permitted for public use in the country of origin by the government of that country. The President ordered a study made as to the essentiality of prohibiting completely the use of DDT. Among those present in the conference were Director Leonardo A. Paulino of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics; Director Eliseo C. Carandang of the Bureau of Plant Industry; Director Pedro G. Refuerzo of the Bureau of Animal Industry; Commissioner Andres Mane of the Philippine Fisheries Commission; Acting Manager A. B. Abrazaldo of RCA; Deputy Commissioner Francisco G. Rentutar of the Agricultural Productivity Commission; NFAC Deputy Executive Director Domingo Panganiban; Vicente C. de Jesus and R. E. Fronda of NFAC; and Juan A. Mariano and Julian S. Frianeza of the Bureau of Soils.
[4] Official Gazette for July 23, 1971: P resident Marcos launched his nationwide rural electrification program when he flew to Laoag City to witness the signing of a loan agreement between the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative Association and the National Electrification Administration (NEA). In a speech at the Ablan Heroes Memorial Hall, the President said that the putting up of the pilot project marked the beginning of the administration’s nationwide program to provide cheap electric power to the rural areas.The President said the administration has earmarked ₱600 million for the next three or four years for the implementation of the program aimed at providing the whole country with cheap power not only to light up rural communities but also to run cottage industries that will provide incomes to the people. The signing of the agreement was participated in by officials of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative Association and the NEA, and was also witnessed by U. S. Ambassador Henry Byroade and Director Thomas Niblock of the US-AID, the U. S. agency assisting in the electrification program. Accompanied by the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, and their children Imee, Bongbong and Irene, the President landed at the Gabu Airport shortly before 9 a.m. On hand to welcome them at the airport were city, national, provincial, municipal and barrio officials from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Isabela and Pangasinan. The welcomers included Reps. Roque Ablan, Jr. and Simeon Valdez, Gov. Elizabeth Marcos-Keon, Rep. Jose D. Aspiras and Gov. Juvenal Guerrero of La Union, Rep. Rodolfo Albano of Isabela, and Gov. Tito Primicias of Pangasinan. After military honors at the airport, the President headed a long motorcade to the city cathedral where Te Deum was sung. Then he proceeded to the nearby auditorium for the signing ceremony. Speaking alternately in English, Pilipino and Ilocano, the President said that in the forthcoming election campaign for local officials he would go around the country and ask the electorate to choose between democracy and communism. In the course of his speech, the President was informed of some of the complaints of his provincemates. He was told that while he keeps on building roads and bridges all over the country, he has neglected his provincemates. The President forthwith authorized the release of ₱3.5 million for each of the first and second districts of the province for the concrete paving of their delapidated roads and national highway. After taking a late lunch at Barrio La Paz, the President motored to different sections of the province to look into the progress of on-going improvement projects. Before leaving Manila, the President issued a directive to the Police Commission to undertake a comprehensive training program for police forces throughout the country geared towards a nationwide anti-narcotics drive. The President gave the order after taking note of the reported upsurge in narcotics addiction among the youth, and of the discovery of a number of flourishing marijuana farms. The President told Brig. Gen. Crispino de Castro (ret.), POLCOM chief, that police forces all over the country should be taught the various techniques of identifying and combatting the grave social menace deriving from narcotics addiction. In this connection, the President authorized the release to the POLCOM of five prefabricated schoolbuildings for the training program.Training sites should be immediately put up at strategic points of the country, the President said. The President also designated Julio A. Sulit, Jr., as acting deputy commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).Sulit fills in the post vacated by Jose Nepomuceno, who had retired.