The Maggie de la Riva rapists were electrocuted at 3:00 PM. I had to refuse the pleas for reprieve and commutation because of the viciousness of the crime, the continued record of recidivism of the prisoners, their prison record, the callousness demonstrated and the four death sentences imposed by the Supreme Court to obviate a commutation or a pardon. I attach the report of Sec. [Vicente] Abad Santos.
Gov. [George] Wallace [Jr.] who was shot last Monday may be paral[y]zed because of a bullet injuring his spinal column. Gov. Wallace of Alabama was known for his anti-negro sentiments.
The plans for setting up an afternoon paper with 27 newspapermen who are leaving their newspapers to join this new publication. Oscar Ongsiako will be the publisher and [Ramon] Monching Cojuangco [Sr.] will be in the Board of Directors.
This is going to bother the publishers. Hans Menzi told me at lunch that Manila Times and Daily Star are affected in circulation by the Daily Express.
I told Hans Menzi at lunch that it was my feeling that North Vietnam which is now asking for negotiations, will settle for the DMZ being moved south so they can occupy the territories they have conquered. Plus some more concessions which would ultimately mean that the North Vietnamese will take over the South. The same cycle will start all over again.
Then Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, Malaysia may follow.
Right now we are safe because Red China does not have any amphibious capability. But in the years they will acquire such capability. We must be ready for that time. Thus the need for the U.S. military bases in the Philippines and our self-reliant defense program.
In the meantime it is necessary to dismantle the communist apparatus in the Philippines. And this should be done before the end of 1973.
Official Gazette for May 17, 1972: THE PRESIDENT had another day devoted mostly to urgent official papers and other matters of state.
Among the actions taken by the President was the submission to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation the nominations of nine persons to positions in the judiciary and the prosecution arm of the government.
Early in the evening, the President had a brief interview with Malacañang newsmen.