He left with the angry statement that “anyway, I am going up on a promotion to Washington where the decisions for the Philippines will be made.”
Amb. [Michael] Armacost was invited for lunch by F/L [First Lady] through Min. [Manuel[ Collantes and as F/L herself told him in order that the air may be cleared and there will be no confusion.
She had been alarmed by the fact that Amb. Armacost had confronted Joanne Benitez (your First Lady is saying that the U.S. Ambassador is confused whether he is U.S. Ambassador or Bank of America president) Joanne had told him, “Mr. Ambassador, you are losing cool. What is happening to you.” Chitang [Carmen Guerrero] Nakpil said, “’Of course not.”
Glecy Tantoco, one week before the rally on Mar 27, 1984 called up Mrs. Bunny Armacost, to keep our friendship intact, who suggested she go to the U.S. Embassy. Glecy Tantoco had breakfast there in the U.S. Embassy where Glecy was to call a party where the F/L and Amb. Armacost could meet to clear thing up since you are such ______.
Two days ago, Amb. Armacost called up Glecy to tell her that he would not meet with the F/L because the F/L was saying that she (the F/L) had succeeded in driving him away from the Philippine assignment as ambassador.
And the ambassador and Bob Gresley the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] head were going to confront Johnny Litton next Monday.
This alarmed the F/L so that she decided 1st hour of the morning today that the Foreign Minister invite him which he did.
I met him as we simultaneously arrived at the Music Room in the Palace.
He even commented pointing to his breast and chest that I must have come from a weightlifting session. My chest and shoulders have grown from my exercises.
1st topic—Mr. Amb. you are listening to gossip—Filipinos pastime. Because we do not talk about money and serious matters but gossiped.
Instead of confronting these small people I would have thought that you should talk to me. You met with Joanne, Glecy then next week Monday, Johnny Litton.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.
The bottom of the page is cut off.
I thought that we are friends enough so we can talk directly. He stated outright—
- There are many flagrant irregularities in the registration of voters.
- Even the rally was bought.
- If [Arturo] Tolentino does not top it, it is not credible.
- If the KBL [Kilusang Bagong Lipunan] wins all 21 seats in Metro Manila then the elections would not be believable.
- Now the Agrava Commission is succeeding in pointing to the parties involved.
We may not be able to depend on gossip for the politics but it shows in the economy—
The Chinese
He had told Chitang and Joanne that the Sariling Sikap program was a gimmick. F/L said that is in our platform.
He was sneering at our projects.
Peoples Forest—he laughed it off as too much ipil-ipil—Nobody needs that much ipil-ipil.
F/L—They are just nursing trees—the final trees will be orchards—
How about Bolinao, Pangasinan. It is a success—P36,000.
Market for charcoal—$200 million market—
He is petty.
He has already set his mind against him—