Actually written at
11:00 PM, July 24, 1971
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
Official Gazette for July 23, 1971: President 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.
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.