There is a fire in the center of Jolo and shooting all around, according to Gen. J. [Jose] Rancudo who received the news from his airforce ground troops in the airfield thereat.
It may or may not mean an attack on the city.
But it is the only disturbing event for the day.
18 holes of golf with Minister Goh Kweng Sui, the Singapore and Japanese ambassador and Amb. [Roberto] Benedicto.
Breakfast, a swim and massage.
Then the final conference on Sulu. 2,020 special policemen as distributed by PC
Official Gazette for March 18, 1973: THE PRESIDENT promulgated Presidential Decree No. 158 extending to April 15, 1973, the deadline for the filing of applications for amnesty to all persons covered by Presidential Decree Nos. 95 and 124, The decree states that in view of the limited period within which to disseminate fully the details of the said presidential decrees (Nos. 95 and 124), especially in the remote areas of the country, many of those who could have availed themselves of the benefits of amnesty therein proclaimed were unable to file their applications on time. It further notes that reports from the field units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the feelers from leaders of misguided elements revealed that many have signified their intention to surrender to the military authority and avail of the amnesty in accordance with the said presidential decrees.
BOARD OF TRANSPORTATION and the Land Transportation Commission have issued regulations for the licensing of “colorum” public utility vehicles. The regulations are aimed at legalizing a big number of clandestine public motor vehicles before the deadline on July 17, 1973, in line with the government’s policy of “maximum utilization of existing public motor vehicles.” The regulations are: 1) The applications will be filed with the LTC agency in whose territory the “colorum” or “kabit” operator operates, where his base of operation is situated, or where the motorized tricycle applicant proposes to operate. 2) The applicant must present the certificates of registration with the corresponding official receipts of payment of registration fees of the motor vehicles for the year 1972 in his name. 3) The applicant will be required to submit an authenticated copy of the PSC decision or order issued to the authorized operator, showing the existence of the line or zone of operation where the “colorum” operator should want to operate. 4) Submission of notarial deed of transfer of the motor vehicles from the authorized operator to the “kabit” operator; and the sketch of the line proposed by the applicant, showing all the streets and roads traversed by the line. 5) The LTC will assign in chronological order a case number to each of the applications accepted for filing. A filing fee of P30 will be charged by the Board of Transportation.
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT Administration collected over P21.9 million during the first five months and nine days of Martial Law (Sept. 22, 1972 to Feb. 28, 1973), a record it has never achieved before as a credit instrument for land reform. This record collection topped by P4.3 million, or 50.25 per cent, the collection of P8,637,000 during the same period in fiscal year 1971–1972. Administration of the ACA is unique because the credit for production loans is extended without collateral. Poor, often propertyless, farmers are the principal clients and the individual loans are small and therefore risky.
BRIG. GEN. Fidel V. Ramos and Col. Hamilton Dimaya, PC judge advocate and concurrently director for amnesty, reported that a total of 1,550 persons applied for amnesty as of now under Presidential Decrees Nos. 95 and 124. Col Dimaya told Gen. Ramos that 329 persons applied for amnesty under Presidential Decree No. 95, while 1,221 have applied under Presidential Decree No. 124.
[Philippine Constabulary] Chief Gen. [Fidel] Ramos with special distinctive uniform patches and insignia.
Arms to be surrendered will be stored for the Sulu Defense Force. Five arms will, if surrendered, entitle the surrenderee to a loan of P2,000 for the barter trade.