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.
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.
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.