Monday
I must write the history of the war. The Mt. Samat visit with the Romualdezes has again brought out the question: why has not the Dambana ng Kagitingan been brought to the attention of the younger generation. They must know our history.
So we should send out some literature on the Dambana.
But the challenge nags me for I have not attended to it.
This was an occasion again to remember and appreciate the ideals we fought for in Bataan—the long days of the underground; the pledge to build a cross on top of the Mt. Samat; the story of Pascual; the meaning of Mt. Samat and of Bessang Pass; the long period of displacement after the war; the bitterness that a clean brave new world had not been won but the same grossness and dirt and pettiness; my being shocked into sobriety by the injustice to the veteran; the wish to change things; the doctorate and its abandonment for the mission to Washington; then the inevitable slide into politics.
I am completely rested. It has been 8 days of freedom from tension.
And I can think clearly of the questions we face and decide with objectivity.
The first question is the question of revolution and the threat of communists. What do we expect and what can or should we do? This is crucial.
Then our economic development—the cottage industry (including such cottage activity as production of goods like shrimps, lobster, crabs or mushrooms for export).
Exploitation of natural resources—mines and forestry.
The Cons. Con.
What shall be the form of government?
Synchronization?
Redistribution of wealth.
Foreign Policy
Russia—Red China
Bases & Laurel Sangley
12:45 p.m. July 6, 1971[1]
Tuesday
Worked on prices (rice, cement and milk) the IISMI [Iligan Integrated Steel Mills Inc.] problem, DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines], imports, production and related matters in a conference from 9-11 AM and then met both the public and private sector on forestry policies. I want the income of government from logging to increase by at least P100 million beyond the expenses of the two bureaus (Forestry and Reforestation).
Then awarded the Legion of Honor to Alan Ford, First Secretary of the U.S. Embassy from 1967 to 1971 promoted to Washington as Assistant Chief of Military Assistance.
The Cons. Con. [Constitutional Convention] is now taking up the question of what form of government they should adopt, the present presidential system or a parliamentary form of government or semi-parliamentary.
Stayed up late talking to [Jose] Joe Campos on the economic picture and [Maria Luisa] Ising and [Daniel] Danny Vazquez who are feuding with Ising’s brothers and sisters specially Beleck because they cannot get their huge Madrigal fortune divided.
12:00 PM July 7, 1971[2]
Wednesday
Last night at 7:00 PM, at the instance of the Solicitor General, the Supreme Court issued a restraining order against the oil companies to restrain them from raising their prices before the Oil Industry Commission considers the matter and holds the hearings required for a determination of a reasonable and justifiable increase.
The oil companies through Mr. Wallahan [J. J. Wolohan] of Caltex and Mr. Massey of Shell came to see me. They seem to think that we should protect them in their effort to make money. They have to learn to take care of themselves. The government cannot be baby sitting for such big monopolies.
There was an alarm over an article of July 6th in the Journal of Commerce in New York by Muriel Allen which claims that members of the 21-man committee of Senator [Russell] Long were preparing to cut the Philippine share in the deficits of other countries from the 37% it had been reduced to from the original 47% to 26%, as well as to cut our basic quota.
Ambassador [Henry] Byroade when I talked to him over the matter by telephone immediately communicated with the State Department and the spokesman on the sugar question, Mr. Katz, said there was no basis for the story.
When I talked to Frank Valeo, the Secretary of the Senate, I found Frank discouraging any direct contact by Kokoy [Benjamin] Romualdez whom I have sent this afternoon at 5:00 PM to the U.S., with the senators other than Sen. Mansfield.
Then the price of logs have gone down by as much as $5 a cubic meter. This was due to the over supply of logs from Indonesia, Japan and Korea are lowering purchase prices.
We will try to organize Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines into a combine of suppliers to keep the prices up.
Then we can reduce the production of logs in the Philippines so that these logs which are used for force sheets in plywood would be on demand.
The reduction of prices may mean a loss of $35 million of dollar earnings of the country.
Between sugar and logs we may have another imbalance in our international trade.
Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile came to tell me that Time magazine has sent feelers through Atty. Ike Belo for a settlement of the libel case I filed against them.[3]
I have informed my lawyers, specially Atty. Crispin Baizas whom I met tonight, that I cannot settle the case out of court as the case was filed to protect and defend the honor, dignity and good name of our country and people.
A settlement is out of the question.
There is a lot of P20 counterfeit currency being circulated in the Philippines. I have directed the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] to take aggressive steps to stop it and punish the persons guilty of this crime.
This could be a part of the communist plot to destroy our economy by debauching our currency.
12:00 p.m. July 8, 1971[4]
Thursday
I am now busy settling conflicts on the candidacies for governor, mayor and even senator.
One of the last is that of Sen. A[lejandro] Almendras. He is playing hard to get, saying he does not want to run. But I know he does. What he wants is for me to promise financial support and the influence of my office to prevent his being junked by the leaders of the party even if he is an official candidate.
I stayed with him up to 4:00 PM this noon (I took lunch at 3:00 PM) as the leaders of Davao had all come to plead for him with him coyly denying any knowledge of their visit to me or any intention of running.
I merely said he would be nominated and he would not be junked but supported.
The political leaders are keeping me busy on the distribution of patronage and public works releases. On the latter I have imposed the condition that the funds be released direct to the treasurers and engineers and shall not be controlled by the politicians of whatever political affiliation. And funds should be released for projects in the program of the national government.
I issued instructions to Sec. of Foreign Affairs [Carlos] Romulo on the “Freedomland” matter. This is Itu ______. There is a great ado about the alleged shooting up of the speedboat of House Minority Leader Ramon Mitra off this island 300 miles east of Palawan while he was fishing. The story is fishy as nobody goes fishing that far away from Palawan.
Anyway, Sec. Romulo should sound out Nationalist China with the request that they evacuate the island which they have fortified and garrisoned. Now that Nationalist China needs our help in the question of the entry of Red China and Nationalist China’s possible ejection from the UN [United Nations]. We can demand this from her.
I have asked Sec. Romulo to notify the U.S. of the situation.
Then I will convoke a national Security Council meeting next Saturday at 11:00 AM.
The three options or alternative courses of action depending on the situation—
Martial law
Continuation of the Presidential form of government
Parliamentary form
In any case an extension of term by synchronization of elections in 1975.
Whatever the situation, if the presidential form is retained; it looks like Imelda will have to run for president either in 1973 or in 1975. As of now there is no other candidate who can beat the Liberals. In all probability the Liberal candidates will be Sen. Gerardo Roxas for President and Sen. Benigno Aquino for Vice President.
VPres. [Fernando] Lopez cannot win the nomination either by the Nacionalista or the Liberals Party. And he will not run if not nominated.
As of now nobody not acceptable to our group will or can be nominated by the Nacionalista party. This holds true of Sen. Salvador Laurel, Jose Diokno, Arturo Tolentino, Gil Puyat or any other aspirant for President of the Republic.
However, if the parliamentary form of government is adopted, then the course of action will depend on when it takes effect. If the amendment takes effect in 1973 or 1975, then I should run for representative in my old district and probably get chosen as Prime Minister.
But we should adopt measures to make the government stable by not allowing any transfer by representatives from one party to another, by limiting the number of political parties to three, by providing a minimum number of years for the Assembly or Parliament to be in power, by requiring that the Parliament can be dissolved only by 2/3 vote of all the members, by allowing the Prime Minister to choose one of his cabinet members to exercise ceremonial functions of government, etc.
The sophisticated control of the convention by the Nationalista delegates themselves who have organized and move as one with my advice.
Thus it seems quite possible to push through the proposals of synchronization of elections as well as a possible peculiarly Filipino type of parliamentary form of government if the presidential form is rejected.
But people comment that I have succeeded in making two former presidents the presidents of the Cons. [Constitutional] Convention. They refer to Ex. Pres. [Carlos] Garcia and Ex. Pres. [Diosdado] Macapagal. They say I have returned to them their dignity.
Actually what I predicted was correct. The delegates were so fragmentized that they needed an organizing hand and a leader.
1:50 AM July 9, 1971[5]
Friday
I have just finished a working session on the book I am writing, “The New Revolution”.
After this book I am organizing a commission to document and research for the materials for the book I will write of the story of the Philippine political, social and economic evolution. From this project I can move to the books that I have in mind.
I will finish the book on the war, the underground and liberation.
Then my diaries. And footnotes to history.
The morning up to 3:00 PM I devoted to the political leaders.
The new officers of Budiras [Bureau Directors’ Association] and Cogeo [Confederation of Government Employees Organization] I inducted to office, I also asked to help in the massive housing project by listing down the government employers who may want houses and coordinate with GSIS [Government Service Insurance System].
Then I organized a coordinating committee under Sec. [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.] to push through my project for the job-creation activities of Bureau of Fisheries, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, Nacida [National Cottage Industries Development Authority], APC [Agricultural Productivity Commission], ACA [Agricultural Credit Administration], PACD [Presidential Assistant on Community Development] and exports.
[1] Official Gazette for July 6, 1971: P resident Marcos had a three-hour conference with members of the Price Control Council and a number of Cabinet members on the stabilization of prices, particularly of prime commodities. During the conference the President directed the Rice and Corn Administration to release to the public as much of the newly imported rice as necessary at ₱2.10 to ₱2.20 per ganta, to prevent hoarding and price manipulation. At the same time, he called for a close watch on price trends and directed several members of his Cabinet to submit immediately updated statistics on the supply of rice, cement, and other local manufactures likely to be affected by price increases. The President also informed those who attended the meeting that he could not create a Price Control Council with powers to punish those who increase prices beyond reasonable levels. Because of this, “we can only monitor prices,” the President said, “and the Central Bank, the Department of Commerce and Industry, and the National Economic Council are continuously monitoring price levels.” During the conference, the President also directed: 1. The Central Bank to release additional dollars up to double the normal requirements for the importation of consumer goods. 2. The Bureau of Customs to promptly release all imports of consumer goods provided all legal requirements are compiled with by importers. 3. The Central Bank and the Development Bank of the Philippines to fund, further imports required by tinplate manufacturers to meet deficiencies and maintain current levels. 4. Central Bank Gov. Gregorio S. Licaros to meet with the Bankers Association’ of the Philippines and seek exemption of imported consumer goods from the imposition of a per cent marginal deposit requirement. Present at the meeting were Secretaries Arturo Tanco, Jr. of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cesar E. A. Virata of Finance, Ernesto Maceda of Commerce and Industry, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., DBP Chairman Leonides S. Virata, CB Governor Gregorio S. Licaros, NEC Chairman Gerardo Sicat, PES Director-General Apolinario Orosa, Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, Undersecretary of Finance Alfredo Pio de Roda and Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes. Following the conference, the President conferred on Alan Ford, first secretary of the U. S. Embassy in Manila, the Philippine Legion of Honor, degree of Legionnaire, for outstanding services in enhancing Philippine-American relations. Ford was scheduled to return to Washington, D. C. after a four-year tour of duty in this country. Present at the conferment rites were U. S. Ambassador Henry Byroade, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Gen. Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; and Rear Admiral George Muse, commander of the U. S. Naval Forces in the Philippines. Toward noon, the President received a number of provincial delegations, including one of Sorsogon mayors accompanied by Rep. Rafael C. Aquino. The local officials discussed with the President matters concerning their respective constituencies. The President devoted the afternoon to desk work. In the evening, the President inducted the newly elected officers of the Malacañang Press Corps, headed by Jose de la Cruz of the Philippines Herald, president. The other MPC officers inducted were Primitivo Mijares of The Manila Chronicle, vice president; Domingo Quimlat of the Taliba, secretary Manuel Salak of The Manila Times, chairman; and David Borje of The Evening News, board member.
[2] Official Gazette for July 7, 1971: P resident Marcos had a series of conferences with congressmen, being Congressmen’s Day at Malacañang, mostly on problems and requirements of the solons’ constituencies. The President, in the course of his meeting with them, appealed to some 30 congressmen to push through the passage of vital administration measures, particularly on land reform and electoral reform, before the end of the special session. He had called Congress to a 30-days special session, certifying four urgent measures on land reform, electoral reform, the budget, and a new Election Code. With the extra session ending on July 17, the President expressed grave concern over the still unacted measures pending before both Houses of Congress. Apart from these meetings, the President had conferences with various executive department officials on current problems of the country, notably on the threatened spiral of commodity prices. In this connection, he took steps to stem increases in the prices of food, such as livestock meat and poultry products, by declaring the Greater Manila Terminal Food Market a national abbatoir. The President also ordered several government agencies to launch a massive production program as the best way of preventing an increase in prices and of improving the earning capacity of the people. He issued the directive during his conference with Rosendo Marquez, officer-in-charge of the PACD; NACIDA Administrator Mario Reyes, and Bureau of Fisheries Commissioner Andres Mane. The President told the agencies concerned, including the Bureaus of Animal Industry and Plant Industry, to redouble their efforts toward attaining peak production because this is the best way to stop rising prices. He also called to a separate conference on the progress of the workers’ housing program, GSIS General Manager Roman Cruz, Jr. and SSS Administrator Gilberto Teodoro to Malacañang. Notable among the President’s other callers was Taiwan solon Mah Su Lay, a member of the Legislative Yuan of that Republic, who paid a courtesy call. The Chinese legislator was here in the course of a survey of Southeast Asian countries. Earlier, the President directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to explore new markets abroad for Philippine logs, one of the nation’s biggest dollar-earning products. Upon the recommendation of the Presidential Committee on Wood Industries Development, the President instructed Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo to utilize diplomatic posts abroad for the purpose of sounding out foreign countries interested in buying Philippine lumber, “regardless of ideology.” Members of the committee called on the President to submit their report and recommendations on the improvement of forestry operations, including the reorganization of the resources and activities of the Bureau of Forestry, the assessment and reorientation of present policies and the adoption of an integrated and basically export-oriented wood industry development plan. Headed by Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo Tanco, Jr., chairman; members of the presidential committee who attended the Palace meeting included Florencio Tamesis of the Society of Filipino Foresters, Jose Sanvictores of the Philippine Association for Permanent Forests, Nicolas Lansigan and Renato Arevalo of the Philippine Lumber Producers Association and Apolinario Dionilio of the Philippine Chamber of Wood Industries.
[3] New York times, July 2, 1971 reported that the Manila office of Time Magazine was padlocked by a Manila sheriff after an inventory of its contents pending a libel suit filed against time by Marcos for PHP50 million or USD8.3M. The April 12, 1971 issue carried a story The Philippines:Prescription to Revolution that Marcos said: “ asserted that he was the richest man in Asia, had insinuated that he had bought delegates to the C onstitutional C onvention to suit his political ends, and had linked him with an American movie actress. ”
[4] Official Gazette for July 8, 1971: P resident Marcos had a big stream of official callers whom he started receiving at mid-morning through up to about 3 p.m. Among those who called were: 1.Iloilo City Mayor Reinerio Ticao, accompanied by Speaker Protempore Jose Aldeguer and Rep. Fermin Caram, Jr., who brought up problems affecting the city. 2.The Philippine Normal College Faculty Association, which sought certification of House Bill No. 3002, providing free tuition for PNC undergraduates. 3.Gov. Jose B. Legaspi, accompanied by Rep. Rafael B. Legaspi of Aklan, who also discussed local problems. 4.Gov. Armando S. Cledera of Camarines Sur and Mayor Jose C. Villanueva of Iriga City, accompanied by Rep. Roberto Sabido of Albay, who again took up local problems. 5.Gov. Sergio Morales of South Cotabato, who likewise consulted him on local problems. 6.Mayors Eufenio Daconday of San Agustin, Carmen Martinez of Cortez and Candelario Viola of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, accompanied by Rep. Jose Puyat, Jr., all of whom focused on local problems, particularly roads and bridges. 7 Governors Verulo C. Boiser of.Davao del Norte, Leopoldo Lopez of Davao Oriental and Ramon de los Cientos of Davao del Sur, and Davao City Mayor Elias Lopez, accompanied by Reps. Artemio Al. Loyola, Lorenzo Sarmiento and Constancio Maglana. 8.Gov. Irene Balite of Northern Samar who also requested fund releases for public works projects. The President attended to urgent state papers in the afternoon.
[5] Official Gazette for July 9, 1971: P resident Marcos conferred with government officials having to do with food production and cottage industries with the view to consolidating government resources and facilities behind a massive program designed to provide incomes and food for the masses. During the conference, the President called for an integrated effort in the drive to promote cottage industries, fishing, vegetable raising and meat production, even as he expressed dissatisfaction over the progress of the uncoordinated campaigns being waged by different agencies of the government, such as the National Cottage Industries Development Authority (NACIDA), Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Fisheries, Agricultural Credit Administration and the Agricultural Productivity Commission. The President designated Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. as over-all coordinator of the integrated drive. He instructed Secretary Tanco at the conference to prepare a comprehensive program, setting forth its requirements, government facilities and resources now available for its implementation, and estimated expenditures and projections. Present at the conference, besides Tanco, were Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, Undersecretary for Industry Troadio Quiazon, Commissioner Francisco Saguiguit of the Agricultural Credit Administration and Amado Lansang of the Agricultural Productivity Commission. The President worked at his desk most of the day, but took time out to receive a number of callers, including two groups of government organizations, the officers of which he inducted. Inducted by the President were the officers of the Confederation of Government Employees Organization (COGEO), namely, Fernando Santico, president; Simon Guillermo, 1st vice president; Leonardo Cabanero, 2nd vice president, Mariano Noriel, 3rd vice president: Antonio de la Cruz, PRO; and members of the board of directors. Also sworn in by the President were the following officers of the Bureau Directors Association: Manuel L. Agustin of the Bureau of Printing, president; Jonas A. Victoria of NCDA, vice president; Razon T. Heresco of the Tariff Commission, secretary; Miguela M. Solis of NCCSDFCY, treasurer; Ubaldo C. Carbonell of the Treasury, counselor; Ramon R. Monsalud, auditor; and Jose A. Aguiling, PRO. Other callers included Mayors Conrado Apacible of Nasugbu, Luis Ramos of Balayan, Mariano Venturanza of Lemery, and Olimpio Sayo of Calatagan, all in Batangas, who requested for replacements for prefabricated schoolhouses destroyed by typhoons; Mayors Jose Sison of Surallah, Honorio Cornejo of Tupi and Ireneo Barroso of Tampakan, all in Cotabato, who took up with the President priority community projects; and Governors Salvacion D. Yñiguez of Southern Leyte, Cipriano Primicias, Jr. of Pangasinan, and Samuel F. Reyes of Isabela, who likewise discussed with the President matters concerning their respective constituencies. While engaged in paper work, the President considered other urgent matters of state, including the question of Freedomland, on which he scheduled a meeting of the National Security Council. The President also issued an order suspending Capt. Rogelio C. Morales, superintendent of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) following the filing of administrative charges against him by Col. Tagumpay A. Nañadiego, Constabulary judge advocate. The Constabulary judge advocate, in a formal complaint sent to the President, charged Morales with having taken advantage of his positions as superintendent and vice-chairman of the Academy’s board of trustees, allegedly approving appointments of candidates to the academy’s cadet corps despite their failure to qualify in the entrance examinations as well as allowing certain employees to receive pay without rendering any actual service, among other cases.