The Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] and Intelligence under the guidance of Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile caught eight Huks with one M-16 Armalite, 2 carbines, two .38 revolvers, two grenades at Navotas, Rizal. Three were on a mission to assassinate me.
The House has just passed export tax bill. They wanted to make 20% of the proceeds into a pork barrel but finally reconsidered it.
Spoke before the Manila Lions on communism and the reasons for government policy.
The National Labor Union of [Eulogio] Lerum and [Antonio] Policarpio picketed the palace, wanted to meet me but since I was not there were willing to meet me after Holy Week.
Official Gazette for March 20, 1970: President Marcos said that the floating exchange rate for the peso will remain for sometime although he predicted that by the end of May a fixed dollar-peso exchange rate will emerge. Speaking as guest of honor at the luncheon marking the 21st anniversary of the Manila Lions Club, held at the Manila Hotel, the President devoted a large part of his speech to explaining the necessity for passing the export tax bill which will supersede CB Circular 289. In this connection, he appealed to the exporters to accept the tax as their share of the burden of stabilizing the economy and the fiscal position of the country. The President stressed that Circular 289 will have to go because of the storm of speculation it has stirred which has resulted in the inability of the business sector to fix prices of commodities.
Earlier in the morning, the President accepted the credentials of two new ambassadors in separate presentation rites held at the Malacañang ceremonial hall. The formal rites were attended by members of the Cabinet led by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo. The newly accredited envoys were Herr Jobst Freiherr von Buddenbrock of the Federal Republic of Germany and T. A. Meurs of the Netherlands.
After the presentation rites, the President received a group of Hilton general managers who informed him that contrary to “exaggerated” reports in foreign publications, demonstrations in Manila are relatively tame compared to the violent riots in other cities of the world. Accompanied by Antonio Delgado, the Hilton executives who called at Malacañang asked the President how they could help promote tourism in this country. The Hilton executives were Kenneth Moss, area vice president for the Far East. Albert Grieder of Tokyo, Ewe Hin Lim of Singapore, Hans Oppacher of Bangkok and Andre F. Charriere of Manila Hilton .
Shortly before 1 p.m., the President motored to the Manila Hotel where he was guest speaker of the Manila Lions Club at a luncheon meeting commemorating its 21st anniversary. While working on state papers in the afternoon, the President signed the nominations of nine municipal judges, an auxiliary city judge and two clerks of court. The nominations were forwarded to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation. [List of names omitted in this note] He also accepted the resignation of Mrs. Pacita M. Gonzales as administrator of the National Cottage Industries Development Authority (NACIDA), as well as personally acted on complaints from the public against abusive increase of transportation fares.The Chief Executive issued a memorandum addressed to the Public Service Commissioner, the Land Transportation Commissioner and the Chief of the Trafcon, asking them to work jointly to prevent such abuses.
Entry is mislabeled as Thursday.
I have breakfast with the publishers tomorrow.
The [Eleuterio] Terry Adevoso plot should be met with legal action. Am trying to convince our asset to turn state witness.
Sec. O[nofre] D. Corpuz has recommended to a Congressional Committee the adoption of socialism as a basis for our reforms without my clearance and approval.
[Norodom] Sihanouk has just been booted out of the Presidency in Cambodia while out on a state visit to Peking.
Chronicle 21 March 1970 p,1 FM disauthorizes Corpuz statement on socialism.