Monday
Manila is in need of a better government. Garbage strewn all over the streets, bad sewage and drainage, corruption and hypocrisy, police inefficiency and dishonesty—these among others makes the city stink.
We must now see what we can do to file charges against the entire city government administration and replace the mayor, vice mayor and councilors.
I would like to see [Teodoro] Doroy Valencia as mayor of Manila and the civic leaders as councilors.
Then I must change Sec. Manuel Syquio with an honest and hard driving engineer. I have either Dave Consunji the contractor or the present Dean [Alfredo] Juinio (Dean of the College of Engineering of the UP [University of the Philippines] and now Administrator of the National Electrification Administration). These men are young, talented, honest and energetic. They are good technocrats and managers.
I would like to change CAA [Civil Aeronautics Administration] Administrator Federico Ablan Jr. with Bobby Lim, former Vice President of PAL [Philippine Air Lines]. Ablan is definitely dishonest and a weakling. The Aviation industry no longer respects him.
Gen. [Marte] Iglesias who is now acting Director of the Bureau of Supply Coordination I would like to shift to the position of Postmaster General so he can clean up the Post Office.
Armand Fabella for Sec. of Commerce and Industry Vice [Ernesto] Maceda who will run for senator.
Adrian Cristobal for Sec. of Labor vice Ople who will run for senator.
Ex. Gen. Mamarinta Lao vice Mama Sinsuat as Adm. of the Cultural Minorities whom I must change as he has been selling scholarships.
I probably will have to take over the position of Sec. of National Defense until I can choose the right man for this sensitive position.
I have cleared the filing of anti-graft charges against Mayor [Antonio] Villegas and all the other officials in the Manila city government. This will mean their automatic suspension by the Court (Circuit Criminal Court of Judge [Manuel] Pamaran), the “fastest judge” as he decides cases in a few hours.
And on prices, I have authorized USec. Drilon to pass by Japan and check on the 300,000 tons of rice being offered by Japan, payable in 30 years at 3% interest with ten years grace. Even in Pangasinan, rice is P2.80 per ganta.
Then I have ordered the importation of cattle by Delta for corned-beef manufacture and by the government for cattle dispersal. This will probably be from Australia.
Local purchase by the Bureau of Animal Industry for dispersal to the barrios so that there would be plenty of animals not depending on commercial feeds which are getting too costly. And we will use all funds available.
Sec. [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.], whom I have ordered to implement these directives, seems overworked and tense. He volunteered to me that he and his American wife are incompatible and have been separate for several years but that their relations are getting strained by the catty comments about Bung Tanco of Amelita Reysio Cruz, the Bulletin columnist.
We have practically chosen the senatorial candidates—the three reelectionists [Alejandro] Almendras, [Dominador] Aytona and [Wenceslao] Lagumbay although I have asked him to study the matter well as he may be much weaker now than before; then
Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile representing Cagayan Valley
Gov. Tito Primicias representing West North Luzon
Sec. Blas Ople representing Central Luzon
Sec. Ernesto Maceda representing Southern Tagalog
Inday Garcia representing the Visayas or
Mons. [Mariano] Gaviola or Amuerfina Melencio Herrera
By “me” I mean, Senate Pres. Gil Puyat, Speaker Cornelio Villareal, Senate President Pro Temp Jose Roy Acting President of the Party. Imelda helped.
Tomorrow, all the Governors, Congressmen, senators and city mayors meet at 9:30 AM on a directorate meeting at Sen. Roy’s residence to nominate the candidates for senators, elect the body to determine and nominate the candidates for senator, elect the body to determine and nominate the final list of candidates, authorize arbitration committees—and perhaps choose a new president.
The final list of senatorial candidates will probably be made two or three days later by the special committee.
But if the quarrel between Puyat and Roy which started tonight on the question of Party Presidency continues tomorrow, the directorate will probably choose me Party President with powers to appoint such bodies as I may decide to advise me.
At least we do not have the bitter quarrel that exists between the Liberals leaders. [Gerardo] Roxas and [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] which has split their party down to the level of the municipalities as we found out on our trip to the Ilocos.
10:00 PM July 27, 1971[1]
While watching the Tuesday
rerun of the Ali-Ellis
fight which we saw
at Sen. Roy’s house from Round
4 as the Directorate meeting
could not start until the fight
was over—
Upon the motion of the Senate President [Gil] Puyat, the Directorate gave me the powers of the President of the Party. In the caucus before that, Sen. [Jose] Roy who is acting President insisted that he become the Permanent President of the Party. To settle the matter, I agreed to take over the party presidency.
We also asked Sen. [Salvador] Doy Laurel who was sent by Ex. Speaker [Jose B.] Laurel to attend the caucus and submit a report on Batangas as well as the wishes of Ex. Speaker Laurel on his desire to meet with me and on the official candidates of the party in the province. It was agreed that the ex. Speaker and I would meet.
We asked Gov. Isidro Rodriguez not to accept [Manuel] Manolo Lopez, son of Iñing [Eugenio] Lopez [Sr.], as his Vice Governor. This was suggested by Sen. Pres. Puyat who fears the intentions of the Lopezes who have sought his ouster as Senate President.
And got the pledge of Gov. Alfredo Montelibano that he would support my candidate in 1973 and our official candidates this election. He is the son-in-law of Vice Pres. [Fernando] Lopez.
The Directorate meeting was finished in a few minutes, excluding my 25 minute speech.
The [Cassius] Clay or [Muhammad] Ali-[Jimmy] Ellis fight prevented the opening of the meeting as everybody agreed to see the fight on direct satellite broadcast.
Almost all the nominees were submitted by Floor Leader [Marcelino] Lening Veloso. And 24 hours are given to those who wish to submit more nominees.
In my speech I asked for unity and dedication to our reform program.
“The reform program is originally the Nacionalista program. The opposition and the communists have attempted to preempt it.
“The communists and the Liberals have the same cry. ‘This government cannot bring about these revolutionary reforms,’ say the communists, ‘and only a bloody revolution can bring it about.’ The Liberals say they can bring about reforms. They cry ‘Me too.’”
I also called attention to the fact that the Liberals have no candidate for governor in 28 provinces out of 66 and in 1000 municipalities out of 1,400.
And so long as the Nacionalista party is united, so long as no leader and follower will enter into understanding and compromises with the political position, our victory is certain.
The strategy of the Liberal Party is to divide us. Let us not fall into their trap.
I then outlined the Reform Program of Nacionalista Party:
Land Reform and Cooperatives
Tax Reforms and Redistribution of Wealth
Educational Reforms
Government Reorganization
Social restructure
Electoral Reforms
The atmosphere was that of optimism and confidence. Victory was in the air.
Many of the leaders felt pity for the Liberals who are still working on their platform.
9:50 a.m. July 28, 1971[2]
Wednesday
Messy time bringing Beth [Elizabeth Marcos-Keon] and Mrs. [Manuela] Ablan together. Beth like the irascible and high strung girl that she is started to quarrel with Mrs. Ablan on how poorly she was running the provincial government.
And I did not have the time to work out a gracious settlement as the provincial leaders were in Maharlika Hall where I had prepared lunch for them.
Spent the afternoon handing out public works releases—P200,000 for each congressman, P100,000 for each governor, P20,000 for each municipality, P2,000 for each barrio, P50,000 for each subprovince, P50,000 for each small city and P100,000 for each big city—and calamity funds.
With only 90 days from Aug. 12th to campaign and one half of this travel time, there is not much time for speech making. So the candidates must have to depend on the party organization.
We are updating the 10 leaders per precinct listing and the organization for each barrio.
Time, Inc. is trying hard to settle the libel case out of court through Ike Belo who has made a special appearance in court.
And I have given instructions that there would be no settlement without a court judgment declaring the falsity of the statements made in the article.
We are still studying the libel case against the local media.
The Liberals has challenged Imelda to run for Senator in the next election to test her popularity. This apparently is the idea of Sen. Eva Estrada Kalaw, a woman who owes her political career to Imelda and me. In 1965, I practically forced the party to put her in as candidate and spent money for her in the campaign and made her win.
She has never been grateful for it. And she has been a petty fishwife.
Since she has been having an affair with Sen. [Jovito] Salonga another Liberal senator, she has been openly criticizing us.
12:50 AM July 29, 1971[3]
Thursday
Imelda is being drafted by the unanimous vote of the Executive Committee in tonight’s meeting at [Bahay] Pangarap.
But we should not expose her now. We should hold her in reserve for the presidential elections of 1973 or 1975. In the senate she would be baited and taunted by the opposition.
So she has gone to Mrs. Leonila Garcia to convince her to accept a berth in the NP [Nacionalista Party] senatorial line-up.
The Executive Committee is split on whether to take in Sen. Wenceslao Lagumbay or [Manuel] Manda Elizalde [Jr.]. They will decide by Saturday whom the line-up will be announced.
A screening committee composed of [Gil] Puyat, [Jose] Roy, [Cornelio] Villareal and all the regional vice presidents plus one mayor with the senatorial candidates [Dominador] Aytona and [Alejandro] Almendras substituted by [Jose] Alberto and [Mohammad] Ali Dimaporo, has been authorized to settle all conflicts and to choose and proclaim the candidates.
There is an explosive situation in the Clark Air Force Base strike of the Filipino employees. As usual they are closing the access and egress to the camp. KM’s [Kabataang Makabayan] as usual are active even threatening to kill 20 American dependents for every Filipino hurt.
And Judge [Ceferino] Gaddi has issued an apparently innocuous order enjoining the PC [Philippine Constabulary] from preventing picketing—although the strikers have not only picketed but closed the gates by a shoulder to shoulder line across the gate.
Ambassador [Henry] Byroade called me up to tell me of the situation.
Ambassador [Toshio] Urabe also called me to thank me for the fast action taken on the complaint of piracy against Japanese vessels.
Spent the day settling conflicts of candidates and releasing calamity funds. The conflict in Ilocos Norte took me the whole afternoon. There were some awkward moments when Beth [Elizabeth Marcos-Keon] refused to apologize to the Ablans for any offense she may have committed against them. She walked back of the conference.
1:00 AM July 30. 1971[4]
Friday
Mrs. Leonila Garcia has finally decided to accept the offer of the Nacionalista Party of a slot in the senatorial ticket. But she made me promise (and so did the children Nanding [Fernando Campos] (the in law) and Linda Campos) that we would undertake to support her in every way. I presume even financially. Imelda has already contributed P100,000 to her campaign fund.
And the members of the Screening Committee are agreed to select Manda [Manuel] Elizalde [Jr.] instead of Sen. Wenceslao Lagumbay who has a finding of dishonesty in BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] matters by the committee of Sen. [Leonardo] Perez.
Have settled some conflicts. Cotabato Col. [Carlos] Cajelo the former provincial commander for governor and Mayor Odin Sinsuat as Vice Governor (Mayor [Esteban] Doruelo objected but we placated him—we suspect him of being a Lopez man). In Ifugao, I asked Cresencio Paredes to withdraw in favor of Gov. Lumawig. In Manila I have been given by the three congressman (Pablo Ocampo not present), Sen. [Arturo] Tolentino and Eddie Figueras to choose the candidate.
The meeting of the National Security Council had Sec. [Carlos] Romulo recommending the renegotiation of the military agreements with the US and the removal of the onerous and prejudicial provisions, the termination of the bases by 1976 and a pragmatic policy towards the US.
Gen. [Ismael] Lapuz gave a briefing on the two Chinas.
Gen. [Manuel] Yan gave a presentation of the needs for briefing about a unilateral military posture (without the US). The first requirement is P3.8 billion for an 83,000 Armed Forces. Or P300 million more annually for the next five years.
I ordered a more detailed study with the possibility of continuing MAP [Military Assistance Program] for the next five years.
At the press conference at 4:00 PM I announced that with the briefings this morning at the National Security Council our government has no other alternative but to adopt the two China policy—allow the study of Red China into the UN [United Nations] but oppose the expulsion of Nationalist China.
1:35 AM July 31, 1971[5]
Talaga Bay Saturday
After I came up to the beach house from water skiing, I received the message from Gen. [Manuel] Yan that our minesweeper (frigate) PS 70 which is off Northeast Cay at the Ligao-Pagasa group off Palawan, for Capt. Brown the Marines commander to land one officer, 33 men and a construction team, was approach[h]ed by two Nationalist Chinese destroyers but without aggressive intentions.
I approved the request for an HU-16 plane (Amphibian) to fly over the area but for no hostile act (even in defense) to be made without my clearance.
Right now they are exchanging messages (normal challenges and identification). And I have authorized Capt. Brown to meet the ranking Chinese officer for a conference.
I attach the message.
12:20 p.m.
The troops of Capt. Brown have already landed in Northeast Cay. The HU-16 has been dispatched.
And the two Chinese destroyers are anchored off Northwest Cay while our PS-70 is between the two islands of Northeast Cay and Northwest Cay.
As of now, they are merely watching each other.
Neling [Manuel] Nieto [Jr.] who stopped playing golf at [Bahay] Pangarap on the first hole last Wednesday, and then collapsed and was unconscious for twenty minutes is now at home and recovering. He had expelled a stone from his kidney, the pain causing him to faint. Another stone was drained from his kidney and there was no need for an operation.
10:15PM
As of noontime, the two Chinese destroyers had left Northeast Cay leaving our men unmolested.
As of 5:45 PM Bongbong was able to stand up and water-ski. The wind had died down and Miguelito Vazquez had shown his style. He has been water skiing since September.
While he was waterskiing I went with the girls and rest of the party by jeep up to the mountain to the north, past the jungle growth to the next two bays and up the top till we could see Mariveles Bay.
The forest is lush and green. We should plant some wild game and fowl.
Upon our return from the mountains to the water (actually the base of Mariveles Mountain) at about 6:30 PM I received a call (phone patch on the SSB) from Sen. [Jose] Roy and Speaker [Cornelio] Villareal to the effect that Sens. [Alejandro] Almendras and [Dominador] Aytona would not accept the nomination if Sen. [Wenceslao] Lagumbay was not also nominated. I asked Speaker Villareal and Sen. Roy to convince them to do so and abide by the wishes of the committee.
At about 8:00 PM I received a call from Sens. Roy and Almendras as well as Speaker Villareal asking me to authorize them to offer to Sen. Lagumbay the Secretaryship of Labor. I authorized them to do so.
At about 9:00 PM they again called to convey the request of Sen. Almendras to postpone the voting on Lagumbay for twenty four hours. The two senators, Almendras and Aytona would not accept my proposal that the voting continue but that the announcement be postponed to tomorrow.
So I told them through Gov. [Benjamin] Romualdez, who by this time had taken over the telephone from Speaker Villareal, that the best compromise would be for the committee to vote on the seven senators and hold action on one—although as I told Gov. Romualdez pointedly I am sure that the news will leak out that Lagumbay has lost out to Manda [Manuel] Elizalde [Jr.] inasmuch as the motion to postpone lost on a seven to two vote.
So there will be two announcements of the Nacionalista senatorial slate.
Tomorrow two helicopters have been placed at the disposal of the three senators and Gov. Romualdez to bring them to the Free Trade Zone at Mariveles which I will inspect at 10:30 AM.
As Sen. Almendras said all he wants is that Sen. Lagumbay sees me tomorrow and whether he (Sen. Lagumbay) is satisfied or not, the announcement of all the eight candidates can be made that same day.
Talaga Bay has become a paradise. It is so near Manila and Mariveles (ten minutes by car) and yet it is a separate world of rest, a heaven of quiet beauty.
I hear I can really think, read and write.
Cong. Pablo Roman was here and I told him that we would be using the beach house which he built but now has offered for our use whenever we need more and more.
Imelda and I have agreed to come here on weekends.
12:25 AM
It is so quiet and soul-filling as I sit with Imelda alone in the porch listening to the soft voices of the night. A night bird has just whistled melodiously in the stillness. And the waves lap gently against the shore.
There is a light wind that keeps the night cool and pleasant.
And a half moon and the stars are bright in the sky.
When I said, “This hide-out has become a paradise,” she laughingly observed, “And you have a son who now knows how to water-ski!
[1] Official Gazette for July 27, 1971: P resident Marcos signed into law Senate Bill No. 709 (HB No 3758) fixing the selling price of essential commodities and re-activating the Price Control Council. Enactment of the new Price Control law was deemed necessary by the President who certified it to Congress during the special session in view of the sharp rise in prices of prime commodities when the old Price Control Law expired on June 30. The law fixes maximum prices of articles at levels established by the Price Control Council under R. A. 6124 as of June 30, 1971, effective for a period of two years, from the date of its approval up to June 30, 1973. Earlier in the day, the President was invested all the necessary powers he may need, as titular head of the Nacionalista Party, to lead the party to complete victory in the local elections. The President was voted these powers by the National Directorate of the Nacionalista Party during its two-hour meeting at the residence of the acting NP president, Senate President Protempore Jose J. Roy, in Quezon City. The vote was taken on motion of NP President and Senate President Gil J. Puyat. Under this party mandate, the President would have, among others, the power to choose the party election inspectors and representatives, and to initiate the party organization and act on all matters aimed at assuring an NP win in November. In accepting the mandate of the party, the President appealed to the party rank and file to unite and affirm their faith and loyalty in the party and its leadership by giving the party full support.
[2] Official Gazette for July 28, 1971: P resident Marcos received the 591-man Philippine contingent to the 13th Boy Scouts World Jamboree, who called at Malacañang in the morning to bid farewell before flying to Shizouka Prefecture, Japan for the world jamboree scheduled to be held August 2 to 10. The President asked the contingent to act as ambassadors of goodwill for the Philippines, and help promote amity, understanding and friendship with other nations. The President told the contingent that they should be proud of their traditions “because most of the leaders of the country today have a background of scouting.” The President added that “we look forward to a system by which we can certainly train our young men and women along the ways not only of decency but of spiritual strength and the ancient virtues that: separate the old from the young, virtues that a scout holds dear. The scouters were headed by Raymundo Crystal and Dominador B. Rañezes, head and deputy head of the BSP contingent, among others. They were accompanied to Malacañang by Antonio Delgado, vice-president for international affairs of the BSP and vice-chairman of the Boy Scout World Bureau. After his meeting with the scouters, the President received provincial delegations led by local executives, who apprised him of problems of their constituents. Toward noon, the President repaired to the Malacañang Maharlika Hall, where he had a luncheon meeting with some 200 members of the NP National Directorate, including senators, representatives and some of the senatorial aspirants. During the luncheon conference, the President inducted into the Nacionalista Party 19 former Liberal Party leaders, led by former Governor Gregorio Santayana of Quezon, deputy secretary-general of the LP; Vice Governor Virgilio Ramos of Zamboanga del Norte and Severo Abos of Abra, and Antonio Villanueva, chairman of the LP chapter in Ilocos Sur.
[3] Official Gazette for July 29, 1971: I n response to the growing public clamor against postal service irregularities which have prejudiced the general conduct of government, President Marcos created a management team to study the problems and deficiencies plaguing the bureau, and to recommend solutions. Retired Gen. Marte U. Iglesias, director of the bureau of supply, was named chairman of the management team. Designated members were Arcadio Sunga, Washington Solidum and Gerardo Zafra, all of the Management Service of the Budget Commission, and a representative of the Philippine Council of Management (PCM), a private group. The PCM has named Augusto Acoymo, governor and auditor of the organization, as its representative. The team was instructed to submit its recommendation to the President within one month. Earlier in the morning, the President received the members of the Joint Philippine-Indonesian Economic Commission who called at Malacañang at the close of their three-day meeting held at the Luna Hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs. They informed the President that they had agreed on specific measures for the effective implementation of projects geared to the realization of the common objectives of the two countries. In his talk with the members of the commission, the President underscored the need for the mutual assistance among the neighboring countries of Asia in view of the fast changing conditions in this part of the world. He expressed gratification over the efforts exerted by the Philippines and Indonesia to help one another in attaining their mutual goal of industrial and economic development. The Philippine panel was headed by Undersecretary of Commerce Eliseo Villamor, while the Indonesian panel was led by Dr. Mohammed Sisman, secretary-general of the Department of Trade. They were accompanied by Ambassador Modesto Farolan, Philippine envoy to Jakarta; and Ambassador Utomo, Indonesia’s envoy to the Philippines. Following the call of the joint commission, the President conferred the Rizal Pro Patria award on Sister Mary Magdala Verhuizen in recognition of her distinguished and outstanding services in the field of education. The Rizal Pro Patria award is conferred on deserving individuals who have perpetuated the ideals of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, through meritorious and outstanding public service. The citation was read by Miss Maria Imelda Marcos (Imee), the elder daughter of the President and the First Lady, Imelda Romualdez-Marcos. Later, the President inducted into office Deputy Commissioner Epifanio Reyes Pangramuyen as acting Civil Service Commissioner, vice Commissioner Abelardo Subido who was considered resigned. The President, in separate ceremonies, also swore into office Ricardo Galano as judge of the court of first instance of Isabela; Willelmo Fortun as judge of the court of first instance of Zamboanga del Sur; and Josue Bellosillo as judge of the court of agrarian relations of Iloilo. Present at the induction ceremonies were close friends and relatives of the inductees; officials and employees of the Civil Service Commission, and a large delegation from Ilocos Norte headed by Dona Josefa Edralin-Marcos, mother of the President; Gov. Elizabeth M. Keon and Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr. The President also received a delegation from the Manila Market Vendors Association which sought his I i ntercession in the improvement of what the group described as deplorable conditions in city market. Headed by Jose J. Lapid, association president, the delegation complained of uncollected garbage scattered in the public markets which, the group said, had become breeding places of flies which swarm all over the market.
[4] Official Gazette for July 30, 1971: President Marcos , signed into law House Bill No. 3417 providing for the acceleration of the adjustment of salaries of public school teachers at a ceremony attended by a throng of teachers, school officials, and other interested parties. The author of the bill, Rep. Aguedo Agbayani of Pangasinan, was also present at the signing, held in Malacañang in the morning. The new law provides a definite salary progression of four steps, effective July 1, 1971, each step being granted automatically after a period of three years of satisfactory service, within a period of 10 years. After the signing ceremony, the President had a private meeting with Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Senators Arturo Tolentino and Dominador Aytona, and Reps. Agbayani and Joaquin Ortega. Later in the morning, the President motored to Camp Aguinaldo to preside over a meeting of the National Security Council. Among those who attended the meeting were Senate President Gil J. Puyat, Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, Finance Secretary Cesar E. A. Virata, Agriculture Secretary Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., Senator Gerardo Roxas and Rep. Ramon Mitra, Jr. of the opposition party, Reps. Nicanor E. Yñiguez and Constantino Navarro, NBI Director Jolly Bugarin, Defense Undersecretaries Jose M. Crisol and Efren Plana, and the general staff and chiefs of major commands of the AFP, led by General Manuel T. Yan, chief of staff. The meeting lasted for more than two hours. The President, as well as the members of the council, was briefed on foreign policy matters by Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo, and on intelligence and defense matters by Gen. Yan and Gen. Ismael Lapuz (ret.), chief of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). Back in Malacañang shortly after 1 p.m., the President rested briefly, then returned to his study for desk work. He issued, among others, a directive to Solicitor General Felix Antonio to coordinate the efforts of the private sector, the schools, the local police agencies and various religious organizations in a massive drive against drug addiction. The instructions were issued to Antonio in his capacity as chairman of the Citizen’s Committee on Order and Justice (CCOJ) created under Administrative Order No. 219 of May 15, 1970. The President also ordered the Solicitor General to assist the Police Commission in the training of local police forces throughout the country on the techniques of combatting the drug menace. At 4 p.m., the President sat down with representative of mass media for his regular press conference, during which he announced that on the basis of reports submitted to him by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the military and intelligence authorities during the National Security Council meeting earlier in the day, the Philippines has no alternative but to adopt the two-China policy at the United Nations. The President said this position would be submitted to the Foreign Policy Council for ratification at its meeting on August 17. The President emphasized that the Philippine government would oppose any attempt to expel Nationalist China from the United Nations. Toward evening, the President received some local executives and leaders from Mindanao and Northern Luzon. Among the callers was a delegation from Davao led by Senator Alejandro Almendras and Davao City Mayor Elias Lopez. In the group were Vice Mayor Manuel Sotto and Councilors Manuel M. Garcia, Pantaleon Pelayo, Jr. and Antonio S. Castillo, all Liberals, who took their oath of affiliation with the Nacionalista Party.
[5] Official Gazette for July 31, 1971: P resident Marcos had a quiet but busy day working on official papers and poring over reports from a number of government agencies. One of the reports was that of the Police Commission on the peace and order conditions in Cotabato and on the police departments in the province, an assessment undertaken by the POLCOM on orders of the President. In the report, POLCOM Chairman Crispino M. de Castro said, among others, that “no religious war exists” between Muslim and Christian settlers in the areas covered by the survey.