Gen. [Romeo] Espino has come to show me a report that 25 Kabataang Makabayan leaders including Nilo Tayag, Crispin Aranda and Navarro met at No. 28 Libis Nadurata, Caloocan City, behind the Iglesia Ni Cristo, to plan the kidnapping of Bongbong anytime from March 15th to closing of school at the La Salle Greenhills area. Informant was in the meeting. SI is of the KM-KPK (Kilusang Progresibong Kabataan under Brandon Cordero). This is the second plot in 1970.
This is disturbing as the informant was present in the meeting. We are getting a confirmation and at the same time doubling Bongbong’s security. Tomorrow he is swimming at St. Martin’s and Imelda will inaugurate the swimming pool.
Settled the Phil. Nat. [Philippine National] Railway demands as well as the DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines].
Paco Reyes came to confirm that Manda Elizalde is just honor-grabbing in Tondo.
Official Gazette for March 5, 1970: President Marcos attended to the problems of two important groups, the leaders of which he met in conference in the morning, while also sticking close to his regular schedule which included private visitors and the usual desk work. One of the first callers on the President was C. C. Pocock of the Royal Dutch Shell Group of Companies, who called to pay his respects. Pocock planed in the course of a tour of the firm’s offices in Asia.
At mid-morning, the President sat down with officers of the Philippine Copra Exporters Association, with whom he discussed the present dollar policy, in respect to its impact on the copra industry. The President asked for a memorandum from the group which he said he would refer to monetary officials for study, with an eye to helping the copra exporters solve their problems. Among those at the meeting were Juan Collas, president; Manuel J. Igual, vice president; Luy Kim Guan, 2nd vice president; Benjamin Salvosa, Enrique P. Boitiz and Thou Baker.
In an hour-long conference, the President also charted the ways by which the Philippine National Railways could enhance its standard while providing cheap and efficient transportation for the general public. A number of measures were agreed upon by the President and leaders of the PNR’s Federation of Labor Unions aimed at solving the problems of the firm. Present at the meeting were PNR General Manager Nicanor T. Jimenez who briefed the President on the present situation of the railway firm, and Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., whom the President designated to confer with various finance officials on ways of meeting the financial requirements of the firm.
The PNE union leaders presented the President with a manifesto signed by Macario C. Roque and Eduardo L. Morales, chairman and general secretary, respectively, of the PNR Federation of Labor Unions, embodying several requests.
Earlier, the President appointed Secretary Leonides S. Virata, the incumbent secretary of commerce and industry, as the new chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines. Chairman Virata succeeds former chairman Gregorio S. Licaros, who is now governor of the Central Bank. Chairman Virata will remain at the Department of Commerce and Industry in a concurrent capacity while awaiting the appointment of his successor. In the afternoon, the President focused on his desk work. He remained in his study throughout the rest of his working day.
Imelda had about 1,000 ladies in the Maharlika Hall to talk about Project Tulongan for Tondo. Father [Jose] Blanco was one of the lecturers.
I have appointed Leo[nides] Virata as chairman of the DBP. [Ernesto] Maceda will take his place in the Dept. [Department] of Commerce and Industry. I will also use Leo to negotiate more loans abroad.
If we can conditionally ratify the Phil-Japan Trade and Navigation Agreement we may be able to obtain a 200 million dollar loan from Japan. We should press our claim for the coconut excise tax collected by the U.S. during the Commonwealth and after the war to be used for the support of the Philippines in the amount of $250 million and settle for a loan instead.
With this development on Bongbong I may have to hasten the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
But only if they persist upon the path of violence they have started.
The danger that now confronts the nation must be eradicated for all time. Communism must be rooted out.