The troops after Commander Dante [Bernabe Buscayno] jumped off at 6:00 AM but the results are negative.
A barrio in Bantay, Ilocos Sur was burned apparently by men in uniform led by a son of a “prominent Ilocos Sur political leader.” It could be nobody else referred to but Vincent Crisologo, son of Gov. [Carmeling] and Cong. [Floro] Crisologo.
I have ordered the Inspector General and also the CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] of the Constabulary to pin responsibility and prosecute irrespective of who the guilty party is.
Official Gazette for May 26, 1970: President Marcos consulted his Financial Policy Council on the financing requirements of priority projects during a meeting held at about 10:30 a.m. at Malacañang. Present during the meeting were Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Secretary of Commerce and Industry Ernesto Maceda, Acting Secretary of Finance Pedro Almanzor, Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, Chairman Antonio Ayala of the Board of. Investments, Deputy Governor Amado Briñas of the Central Bank, President Eusebio Villatuya of the Philippine National Bank, Chairman Leonides S. Virata of the Development Bank of the Philippines, and Administrator Gilberto Teodoro of the Social Security System.
Earlier, the President worked on official papers, then set them aside for the important conference. At 11:15 a.m., he once more disengaged from his usual routine to address the graduates of the first seminar held in Malacañang for middle-management employes of the Office of the President.
In his remarks, the President called on the country’s civil servants to work towards “a strong, dedicated, incorruptible and competent” civil service that moves on its own momentum, independent of partisan considerations and unaffected by the periodic constitutional changes in leadership.
Because of the new energy that has been unleased in the bureaucracy for government workers to upgrade themselves by constant training programs, seminars and self-study, the President expressed hope that the government will soon be run by a competent civil service that does not have to rely on the initiatives from the upper echelons of leadership in order for it to move.
Among those who attended the seminar graduation rites were the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad, Secretary of Labor Blas F. Ople, Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, and Assistant Executive Secretaries Ponciano Mathay, Gilberto Duavit, Flores Bayot and Roberto Reyes.
Back to his study, the President received scheduled callers, notably Secretary Ople and Gov. Tito Primicias of Pangasinan. In the afternoon, the President worked mostly at his desk. He saw only close aides and officials who came for consultations. He continued to work uninterrupted through early evening. Among others, the President:
1. Ordered the total ban on the importation of luxury vehicles by all government offices and entities, as a means of conserving foreign exchange. 2. Ordered the immediate mobilization of the government’s various relief agencies to come to the assistance of the victims whose houses were reportedly burned down in Friday’s incident in Bantay, IIocos Sur.
The President also declared that all possible efforts are being undertaken by the military and the constabulary to bring to justice the parties responsible for the reported sacking of the two barrios in Bantay, and that the whole severity of the law shall be applied to all those who took part in that incident.
But as usual the opposition party is capitalizing on it. We have to talk to the Crisologos not to abuse power.
I addressed the middle-management graduates of Malacañang this morning. We are upgrading our civil service with these [sic] training. I hope to hand over as a legacy an efficient, incorruptible and dependable civil service which can run the government even without the participation of the President, VPres [Vice President], the cabinet or Congress.
So no matter who becomes President, the government will run on its own momentum.
I understand the MOPC [Manila Overseas Press Club] will try to send [Joaquin] Chino Roces to the UN [United Nations] to work for the release of the Yuyitongs and perhaps to even have a condemnation of their deportation somehow presented even if not passed. [Max[imo] Soliven is becoming nothing but his stooge and puppet.