We are anchored off Maasin after a very tumultuous and successful visit of Surigao and Dumagat. In the latter I spoke to the Philippine Benevolent Organization, the founder and President of which is Mayor Ruben Eccleo of Dinagat. We also tried the big clam shells (fresh with only salt and vinegar).
We have also been received riotously in Maasin where we arrived at about 5:00 PM, met with the mayors and capitanes del barrio and discussed their problems. I brought them their public works and calamity funds.
PRESIDENT MARCOS, on the third leg of his five-day visit to the South, inaugurated Surigao City as the 17th city in Mindanao.
In ceremonies held at the local athletic stadium, the President reenacted the signing of the city charter, which has been approved on August 30, 1970, and administered the oath of office to the officials of the new city headed by Mayor Pedro Espina.
In his brief speech, the President told the people he had included Surigao del Norte in his itinerary because he had wanted to check on the destruction brought by destructive floods in the province.
The First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, who accompanied the President on the trip, brought with her rice and other foodstuff which she turned over to local officials for distribution to the indigent flood victims.
The President had previously dispatched some 300 sacks of rice and release funds from the Department of Social Welfare for the extension of relief aid to the flood victims.
The presidential party landed in Surigao at 8 AM aboard the RPS 777 after an overnight voyage from Tagbilaran City.
After the Te Deum at the city cathedral, the President and the First Lady inaugurated a nearby telephone exchange capable of handling nationwide and overseas calls.
Rep. Constantino Navarro, who introduced the President at the city inaugural rites, assured the President that the people of Surigao are 100 per cent behind his democratic revolution.
The presidential party pulled out from the city wharf shortly before 12 noon, for Maasin, Southern Leyte.
Enroute to Maasin, the President had the ship anchored off Barrio Matingbi of Dinagat, the biggest of the six municipalities on the island, and went ashore.
The presidential party was met by a large crowd headed by Dinagat Mayor Ruben Ecleo.
The President ordered the release of P50,000 for the construction of the hospital on the island, which is 14 nautical miles from the Mindanao mainland. He also released another P50,000 for the completion of seawalls.
The First Couple was accompanied on their island visit by Rep. Constantino Navarro.
Informed of the hijacking to Canton of a PAL BAC–111 aircraft, which was on an early morning flight from Manila to Davao, the President expressed concern over the safety of the passengers on board, and appealed to those government in a position to extend assistance to use their good offices with the People’s Republic of China for the safety of the passengers and the aircraft.
A statement issued by Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad said:
“The government is deeply concerned over the hijacking of a Philippine Airlines BAC–111. We have asked friendly governments who have diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China to use their good offices in helping ensure the safety of the passengers and the aircraft, and we are appealing to all those who are in a position to extend assistance, to help in their eventual release.
“Even now, friendly governments are trying their best to help.
“We ask the families of the passengers aboard the missing aircraft to have faith in our efforts. The government shall spare no effort in seeking to ensure the safety of the passengers and the aircraft.
As we were at Dinagat receiving news of the hijacking of the BAC III of PAL [Philippine Air Lines] that was going to Davao this morning (I attach the reports) Cong. [Jose] Leido [Jr.], [Jose] Joe Alberto and others arrived by plane at Surigao and wanted to meet with me about the plan to depose Speaker [Jose B.] Laurel. I asked them to come by boat but when they were on board the 44 I decided to talk to them by telephone so that they could go back to Manila as they wanted this same afternoon.
June Leido explained that in the sessions last night Speaker Laurel had been drunk and had stepped down from the rostrum to deliver a privilege speech. Before he could he started cursing everybody including me.
This antagonized 95% of the congressmen. It was their decision to depose Speaker Laurel immediately but they had come to obtain my clearance.
I asked them to go ahead and reorganize if this was the will of the majority of congressmen. But that I should not be considered as intervening at all in the internal affairs of the House.
They returned to Manila and I expect the reorganization tomorrow.
Six Filipino student activists armed with a carbine, pistols and a pair of scissors hijacked a Philippine Airlines domestic flight from Cebu to Davao and diverted it, after refueling in Hong Kong and releasing 20 of the hostages, to Canton. The first successful hijacking to the Peoples Republic of China.