1:40 AM July 8th
The parliamentary form of government won out in the Constitutional Convention against the Presidential form of government by a vote of 160 against 118 with three abstentions and about 27 absent. Some of the men identified with us like [Jose] Leido, [Leoncio] Puzon and [Emerito] Salva voted for the presidential form of government.
If this constitutional reform is ratified, the way is open for me to become Prime Minister.
If it is not ratified, Imelda may have to run for President as there is no other candidate that can win against the Liberals.
But the parliamentary form of government will save Imelda from the muckraking of politics.
The Liberals must be agitated now. And so must the Senators. For a unicameral form of legislature will follow. And they are out.
National Security Council meeting at 9:00 AM. I attach the papers on SEATO [Southeast Asia Treaty Organization] in Envelope XXI-A with newspapers.
Reports on Isabela and Mindanao.
[Jose] Diokno is beginning to sound off again on martial law.
Official Gazette for July 7, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS presided over a meeting of the National Security Council at Camp Aguinaldo. Discussed were the situation in Zamboanga and Isabela, as well as the Philippine position on the future of SEATO.
In an interview with newsmen later, the President, among others, clarified reports to the effect that Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo had sought the dismantling of the SEATO. Romulo, the President said, was instructed to seek a new orientation or a redirection for SEATO.
After the NSC meeting, the President proceeded to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, also in Quezon City, where he was guest of honor and speaker on the occasion of the agency’s 23rd anniversary celebration.
In his speech, the President said that security is still the basic requirement for a progressive Philippines. “We cannot talk about development, we cannot talk about advancing the economic frontiers unless we can secure our country,” he said.
The President also announced that he was certifying to Congress the National Security Act which will make NICA an agency created by virtue of law, instead of by executive order.
The President was back in Malacañang at about 2 p.m. The rest of his working hours were spent on official papers.