10:00 PM
While watching the
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.
Official Gazette for July 27, 1971: President 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.
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.