This has been a busy day. I woke up at 3:20 AM, tried to sleep but finally stood up at 4:45 AM after waking up Imelda. Woke everybody up so we could go fishing. We were not going to leave Fuga without catching a fish.
So I caught my first game fish at 6:10 AM northeast of the northwestern point of Fuga. I was using a No. 9 fishing rod, Senator brand with a light line.
Then I caught a tuna at 7:45 AM as we were going buck to Barit, in the channel between Barit and Mabag.
Conrad Antonio helped me get used to the fishing rod, the reel, the line and the bait.
But before that we lost what could have been a record as the line ported on a badly fastened knot.
We have to go back to Fuga. Imelda and I are agreed to go back.
And I am now going to fish even in the 777.
We left at about 8:45 AM from Barit, walking up to the Airfield (I used the PNB [Philippine National Bank] King Air, Imelda used the Soriano King Air). We reached Cauayan, Isabela, flying at 8,200 ft. after 50 minutes.
Briefing on the military. The NPA [New People’s Army] seem to have transferred their operations to Isabela but the military have them under control although they number only 375 officers and men as against 100-150 NPA. I have ordered an increase by 100 more men, two helicopters to be based at Echague as well as a U-17, and new trucks to be sent with the men. Morale of the men is high and everybody spoiling for a fight.
Official Gazette for May 13, 1971: President Marcos returned to Manila from a three-day visit to the Cagayan Valley provinces, which he undertook in connection with his annual summer tour of the country. Accompanied by the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, the President covered the provinces of Cagayan, Kalinga-Apayao and Isabela, where he looked into the progress of various on-going development projects.
While in Isabela, the President also received a briefing from military officials on the peace and order situation in the province.The military commanders reported that communist dissidents previously operating in Tarlac and Pampanga had transferred their operations to Isabela but that the armed forces have them on the run and are in full control of the situation.
Present at the briefing held at the residence of Gov. Samuel F. Reyes in Cauayan at noon were Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, Brig. Gen. Eduardo Garcia, PC chief: Brig. Gen. Felizardo Tanabe, 1st PC zone commander; and ranking officers of the provincial and task force commands.
After his conferences with the local and military officials, the President and the First Lady left for Manila, arriving in Malacañang late in the afternoon.
Then met the local political leaders at 10:30 AM up to 11:00 AM when I left for the airport for Manila where we landed at 12:30 AM.
Mayor Dee [Faustino Dy Sr.] of Cauayan seems to head the NPA’s in Isabela.
Sen. Pres. [Gil] Puyat came to see me about the request of the senators.
Tonight I just met Sultan Ismail Kiram and Princess Tarhata on their wish to settle their rental money with Malaysia on a lump sum.