March 21, 1972

Patched up the differences of Com. [Baltazar] Aquino and Sec. David Consunji. The PJH is still under Com. Aquino.

Met some of the lenders, Delegate Pacificador, Fiscal Joe Castillo (to trap that extortionist Crispin Reyes, who is trying extort money from Leo[nides] Virata whom he charged with anti-graft), Jose Marie Soriano and Sabastian Ugarte on the Tala Leprosarium Project of the Order of Malta of which he is honorary minister.

Then we presented the Human Resources Development program to the Cabinet and the heads of offices and Bureau Directors.

I attach the papers.

And worked on the funding for agricultural production. I also attach the funding program of Sec. [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.].

10:00 PM March 22, 1972[1]

Wednesday[2]

Today is the 75th Anniversary of the Philippine Army. I went to Fort Bonifacio to celebrate it with a parade and review of reservists and ROTC [Reserve Officers’ Training Corps] cadets emphasizing the concept of the citizen army.

Then met at 12:00 PM, [Andres] Andy Soriano [Jr.] who came to plead that I meet with [Benigno] Benny Toda [Jr.] on the PAL [Philippine Airlines] question. But I told him my meeting him may not solve the question as FNCB has foreclosed, Caltex has paid the delinquencies which is the full amount and interest since Toda has not paid anything on interest or possession or amortization and Caltex seems to have taken possession of the shares of stock after paying the amounts due so Caltex has been subrogated as creditor to FNCB of Benny Toda.

Inducted into office the officers of the Knights of Rizal headed by Justice [Claudio] Teehankee [Sr.] who told us that [Manuel?] Elizalde would lose the case in the Supreme Court.

Then met the Samar delegates with [Fernando] Nanding Veloso.

And a conference on Housing. Two billion pesos needed every year for 100,000 houses at P20,000 per unit, which we do not have.

10:00 PM March 23, 1972[3]

Thursday[4]

Imelda and the children have left London for Rome this afternoon. They should be calling anytime now.

Received the credentials of the Nationalist Chinese ambassador. He assured me they would not enter into any military agreements with Russia although Sen. Chiang Ching Kuo, son of Chang Kai Shek and heir apparent is Russian trained and has a Russian wife. He however, (it is clarified) was to Siberia because he was a trouble maker when he worked in a Russian factory.[5]

Before that l met the Japanese ambassador on the Commodity Loan and Project Loan Agreement. They insist on the Mindanao Telecommunications and we insist on other projects like Cagayan Natural Gas project, Liguasan marshes reclamation project and Tiwi Geothermal project.

And held a conference on the

Trade with Russia to be handled through Japan—our Amb. [Roberto] Benedicto and the Russian ambassador.

Bideco [Bicol Sugar Development Corporation]—a commitment to Sens. [Huey] Long and [Allen] Ellender

GMTFM [Greater Manila Food Terminal Market]—why no tie up between the producers and consumers up to now

Why no office attends to visitors who want to invest in the Phil. or trade with it. I directed the Sec. of Commerce to meet with the Sec. of Foreign Affairs, BOI [Board of Investments], Central Bank, Dept. of Agriculture

DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines] is not helping in investment—not even guarantees. More aggressiveness.

PNB [Philippine National Bank]—I authorized it to float bonds provided that they present enough collateral

We are checking the deficiencies in our industrial development. One of them would be oil.

Then a good heat treatment plant which could be the Cavendish-Ipsen corporation.

And an industrial refractory factory for high test ceramics.