Had to stay in Manila because of the request of the Congressional leaders to help out in the passage of the calamity bill, the budget, public works bill, tax measures etc. Today is the last day of session.
But Imelda went to Clark Air Force Base, then by truck to Tarlac, then by helicopter to Paniqui, Pampanga and Bulacan.
Bad weather—rain and gusty winds.
We lost one Albatross off Tondo in Islang Puting Bato. One engine went dead after taking off from Sangley for Clark on an administrative flight (part of the First Lady’s group) made an emergency landing on the rough sea along the Tondo shoreline successfully but busted the pontoons and the nose of the fuselage. Sunk in 15 minutes. The passengers, mostly pilots were saved. Only one confirmed casualty, Corp. Saavedra PA [Philippine Army] who jumped out of the plane and swam away from the rescuing boats.
TV—Vigillantes in the morning. Then worked on the Rehabilitation program.
Legislative problems.
Met Sec. Ponce Enrile, Gen. [Romeo] Espino, [Fidel] Ramos and [Ignacio] Paz.
Gen. Paz has a theory the guns in Diguyo, Palanan may have been given by the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] to the NPA [New People’s Army] not to destroy me and the
Official Gazette for July 27, 1972: THE PRESIDENT issued Proclamation No. 1051 calling the Congress of the Philippines to an 8th special session, commencing immediately upon adjournment of the 7th special session, in order that urgent legislative measures could be acted upon.
Legislative proposals certified by the President included those providing funds for an integrated flood control and drainage program for the Greater Manila area and public works projects in other cities and municipalities, as well as for the moderation of typhoons by reducing or minimizing their destructive intensity.
Earlier in the day, the President, among others, directed the Bureau of Public Highways and the AFP Engineering Battalion to immediately repair national roads in Manila.
The President issued the order even as he kept tabs of the flood situation and the relief and rescue operations in the flooded areas of Central Luzon and the Greater Manila area.
Towards evening, the President received Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, General Romeo Espino, AFP chief of staff; and Brig. Gen. Ignacio Paz, chief of AFP intelligence, who reported on the capture by government troopers of five rocket launchers, seven rocket rounds and several firearms in an encounter with National People’s Army regulars in Palanan, Isabela.
The President then motored to the studio of Channel 13 where he was interviewed on the relief and rehabilitation program of the government, including its financing.
Republic but to make us depend on the USA. The bullets are supposed to destroy the barrels of the guns after a while. Too ridiculous and far fetched.
I do not buy it. But even if they did, they would now be pulling out of such a plot. So we must give them a graceful way out.
I attach a report of Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile on info given by Ninoy [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.].
I have called Congress to another special session—the third. They have not passed the budget and the tax measures among others.