Just arrived from a conference for the organization of men to counter-demonstrate against any of the students in the U.P. [University of the Philippines]. This is the Quezon City group.
Before that attended the Don Bosco Training School for boys in B[arri]o Magsaysay, Tondo. I was met by the people with warmth, everybody wanting to shake hands, all smiling and cheering. These surprised the rich people who were around specially the Manila Times Roces family. It warmed my heart, as I saw the look of respect in the eyes of Rufino Cardinal Santos, Andy Soriano Jr. the chairman of the Tondo Youth Foundation, his brother Jose Maria Soriano and the priests and nuns.
Was interviewed in the morning by the AP [Associated Press] International Services [Dan] Swinton, whose father with Dr. Hayden I decorated with the Philippine Legion of Honor for their long services to our country.
Official Gazette for June 4, 1970: President Marcos finally met with the families in the Bantay (Ilocos Sur) incident in the morning at Malacañang’s Maharlika Hall. During the meeting he heard the victims tell their stories and afterward mapped out the rehabilitation of the barrio.
Before the meeting, the President attended to state business as usual, and in-between received callers, notably the representatives of the Philippine Lumber Producers Association whom he asked to use part of their vast profits in helping the government conserve the forests. The President suggested, and the lumbermen agreed, that the latter group band themselves together and set aside a common fund for the formation of a vigilante group, which will actively assist government in going after violators of forest laws. The President said he is willing to deputize such group, if necessary. At the same time, the President asked the group to help government put stop to corruption in the forestry service by reporting to the government all cases of extortion, bribery, and other irregularities involving lumbermen and forestry men.
The official and directors of the PLPA called on the President to pledge support to the forest resources conservation program and the “lotion and development of local wood industries. Among those in the group were Antonio de las Alas, honorary president; Renato Arevalo, president; P. M. Picornell and J. J. Becker, vice presidents; Pacifico de Ocampo, secretary-treasurer; and Nicolas Capistrano, Jr., Carlos P. Fernandez, Florencio Tamesis, Aurelio Lagman, Guillermo Ponce, Deogracias San Pedro, Walter McAloney, Mamerto Sanvictores, C. F. Roxas, III, Francisco J. Nicolas, Jorge Tirador, Dan F. Estes and Conrado Alcantara, directors.
One of the President’s first visitors was Stan Swinton, director of world services of the Associated Press. Swinton was accompanied by John Nance, chief of the AP Manila bureau. There were no other callers for the rest of the day, giving the President ample time to devote to his paper work. At about 4 p.m., he left Malacañang to attend the inauguration of the Don Bosco Boys Center at Barrio Magsaysay in Tondo, as guest of honor and principal speaker. In his speech, the President asked for greater citizenship participation in social amelioration programs, particularly from among those who can contribute significantly to the advancement of the program.
Back in Malacañang, he resumed working on state papers in his study
Then exacted from the loggers a promise that they would put up a special fund for more policing of our forests. I bluntly told them that I am going to cancel the concessions of those who are not complying with the rules and regulations specially on conservation.
This morning I spent some time with the [Luis] Chavit Singson group from Barrio Ora, Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Promising them protection. I got some of them to agree to testify and then go home to work on rebuilding their homes. They lost everything but their clothes on their backs. And they are being threatened with liquidation.