We had a very pleasant but eventful day—I let Ambassador [Henry] Byroade go fishing alone at 7:00 AM. He hooked one talakitok. We brought all the others by boat to Mabag at about 9:30 AM. It was windy and the water so clear you could see down to 20 feet and just right for swimming. We saw the cattle and the small house on the rock at Mabag—as well as the cave under it on the cliff. Then we went around the island of Barit. As we started to go we met Ambassador Byroade in the big tugboat, Taggat I. He had all his stuff transferred and we started fishing some more. The wind was from the Southwest and when we got to the west of the island the swells were about ten feet high and the Miss Barit which we were using was pitching and rolling alarmingly. In the middle of this my new fishing rod hooked a blue snapper which I easily reeled in. This was about 11:00 AM. We went to Fuga, saw the beach house which actually seems better than this one in Barit. And I drove the ambassadors to the barrio and the ruins of the Jesuit seminary in an old jeep. To take the Barit I sw[a]m to it and underestimated the current, was carried by it beyond the boat but I was able to catch on to a piece of rope. I think I am a strong swimmer but that current was swift—southward at noon. Sarmiento, my close-in security was carried south beyond the boat and had to be picked up by a speed boat.
We came to Barit where we went swimming again before lunch. Then I worked on some papers and took a nap.
At 4:15 PM we took the smaller tugboat to go skin diving at the rocks north of Mabag. That tugboat seemed about to capsize so we had to transfer some of the security to Miss Barit.
But the corals in the area were beautiful. We first used a plastic bottomed boat to see the underwater fairy land. The girls then used it. I borrowed the glass mask of one of the underwater boys and swim under water for some time. We caught (speared) some lobster, fish (including a parrot fish of various shades of blue) and a small octopus and a botete—a sea porcupine or puffer.
When we came back at 6:15 PM it started to rain and get windy. We almost swamped. I saw we were shipping water at the stern.
As Ambassador Byroade said after the trip, “That boat is not too stable.”
An exciting day—Then mass by the ship’s chaplain and dinner.
Imelda has been cooking for us—my favorite fish in a sauce of tomatoes (lots of it), onions, garlic and vinegar; pork and beans baked with molasses; pochero; bananas in syrup for dessert. Delicious! Then lobsters!
No Official Gazette entry for this day.
I probably have put on at least 3 pounds.
I have worked on the manuscript for my book on the “Democratic Revolution.” This will have an impact not only in the Philippines.
The Sangley P[oin]t robbery where a U.S. Marine lieutenant and one robber were killed has brought out many revelations. Gov. [Delfin] Montano tried to protect Asst. Fiscal [Dante] Filoteo where three of the robbers including the leader sought sanctuary, by asking the PC [Philippine Constabulary] commander to withdraw the troops surrounding the house. “But Col. [Daniel] Lira did not yield.”
“Asst. Fiscal Filoteo surrendered three FA’s (one each armalite, carbine and Thomson SMG. It appears that the surrendered armalite (property of CCPD [Cavite City Police Department]) was issued in the name of one Patrolman N. Concepcion of the CCPD).”
3. “All the bank robbers are members of the Cuadra Gang. Significantly, the same Cuadra Gang is the one headed by the late Fiscal Alonzo who was killed some time back as a result of a running feud with a rival Cavite gang. As yet unconfirmed reports state that Asst. Fiscal Filoteo has been aggressively undertaking efforts to regroup the now loosely organized members of the Cuadra Gang.”
I enclose the intelligence reports on June 4 and 5 of this.
The Chronicle carries an editorial as usual very vicious on my holing out in Fuga with the American and British ambassadors.
And the Manila Times says in a headline: “[Diosdado] Macapagal Won’t Talk on Marcos Term” and that the delegates are split on the extension of my term.
And here I am trying to keep away from Manila.
So I have decided to go back tomorrow and hold a press conference at 4:00 PM.