I was able to bring about a situation where the mayors of Sulu proposed that they increase their police forces by an average of 200 men per municipality with salaries of P100 a month, assume responsibility for peace and order in their jurisdictions and go out and hurt down the rebels who do not surrender.
Official Gazette for March 16, 1973: THE PRESIDENT has promulgated Decree No. 152 prohibiting the employment of the use of share tenants in complying with the requirements of the law regarding entry, occupation, improvement and cultivation of public lands under the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 141 (the Public Land Act). The decree was issued following reports that applicants for, or holders of, lands of the public domain do not occupy and cultivate the lands themselves but have resorted to the pernicious practice of employing or using tenants for the purpose of complying with the entry, occupation and cultivation requirements of the Public Act. The decree provides that it shall be an essential condition in every application for, or grant of, agricultural lands of the public domain, under the Public Land Act, that the applicant or his transferee shall enter the work upon, improve and cultivate the land himself within the period prescribed for the various modes of concession under the said Act. The employment of the use of share tenants in whatever form for the purpose of complying with the requirements of the Public Land Act is prohibited and any violation hereof shall constitute a ground for the denial of the application, cancellation of the grant and forfeiture of improvements on the land, in favor of the government.
JUSTICE SECRETARY Vicente Abad Santos stated that there is no provision in Republic Act. No. 2056 or in the Letter of Instruction No. 19 from which may be inferred that the removal or demolition of a prohibited construction would extinguish or remove the criminal liability of those responsible for the illegal construction. He issued the legal opinion in reply to a request from the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications on whether it can still criminally prosecute a person under Sec. 3 of RA No. 2056, after his illegal construction on esteros and river banks have been ordered demolished pursuant to Letter of Instruction No. 19, dated October 2, 1972, of the President. He stated that he is not aware of any law or legal principle supporting the proposition that the criminal liability of the persons responsible for the illegal construction is extinguished after the demolition or removal of such illegal construction. He added that remedies against public nuisances, like these illegal construction in question, namely, criminal prosecution, civil action or abatement, are cumulative and do not exclude one another.
THE PRESIDENT conferred the ancient Order of Sikatuna, rank of datu, on Dr. Goh Keng Swee, defense minister of Singapore, for “outstanding achievements” in the enhancement of close and friendly relations between his country and the Philippines. Before a large gathering of high government officials, RM awardees and members of the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation board of trustees, the President described Dr. Goh as a man who has gained distinction in Asia and the world not only through his counter-insurgency lectures but also through his courage and ingenuity in breaking the communist threat in his country. The awardee was also cited for being largely responsible in the orderly and systematic development of the various projects in Singapore which have made the city-state a model and source of pride for many countries in Asia today. The President said that through his dedicated efforts, Dr. Goh has helped strengthen friendship and enhance understanding between his country and the Philippines through an exchange of know-how in economic, education, social services, and defense planning.
SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSION has ruled that as of March 7, 1973, Social Security System sickness allowances shall be paid to the employees entitled thereto only after their company sick leave (with full pay) shall have been exhausted. SSS Resolution No. 203, dated March 7, 1973, supersedes paragraph (d) 2 of SSS Circular No. 91–T which provided that any current company sick leave pay paid to the employee during his confinement shall form part of the employee’s sickness benefit and the employer shall be reimbursed by the SSS to the extent of such payment not exceeding the sickness benefit allowed under the circular. In view of the recent SSS resolution on the payment of sickness benefit, SSS sickness allowances shall be paid to qualified member-employees only after their company sick leave with full pay shall have been exhausted.
But it is a long story.
A story of nerves and waiting and the threat to mount a full scale military operation.
Met the Muslim leaders from 6:00 PM to 12:00 PM. Raschid Lucman and his wife, Gov. Tarhata Alonto Lucman and Cong. Ali Dimaporo of the two Lanaos as well as Duma Sinsuat and Mama Sinsuat from Cotabato and Gov. [Murphy] Sangkula and Cong. [Indanan] Anni with the mayors of Sulu later on.
Awarded the Sikatuna (Rank of Datu) to Minister of Defense Go Kweng Siu of Singapore this morning. He is the man responsible for the crushing of communist insurgents in Singapore in the 1950’s.
Clarified the order on tax amnesty so as to encourage voluntary disclosure of hidden wealth.
Met the head of the Credit Department of the First National City Bank of New York.
And was interviewed by Jurgen Putschell of Stem magazine.
Talked to Gen. [Romeo] Espino now in Davao and Gen. [Fortunato] Abat in Cotabato City.