The Phil. Embassy in Saigon has reported the war situation has become critical. Evacuation plans have been prepared.
I have called a Security Council meeting for Monday. I intend to invite members of the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committee.
I spent the whole morning with the congressmen who are still importing me for favors.
Gerry [Gerardo] Roxas talks about national discipline—He should sermonize to his father in law who has stashed dollars in the U.S. buying real estate in Westershire [sic], New England.
The same thing with Aquino whose friends the Enriquito Zobel and the Lopez are importing luxuries.
Official Gazette for May 3, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS conferred the Ancient Order of Sikatuna (rank of Datu) on Ambassador Julio Menimo Salcedas of Portugal, who was scheduled to leave for his home office after serving in the Philippines for over three years, “for endeavoring constantly to strengthen the friendly ties between his people and the Filipinos, and for becoming instrumental in promoting greater understanding to their mutual benefit.”
In separate ceremonies, the President also conferred the Golden Heart Presidential, Award on Philip Parker of the United States Agency for International Development for his “outstanding contributions to the government’s efforts to provide electrification to the masses by means of the cooperative idea,” particularly through the establishment of two pilot projects and the procurement of 36 power plants; and the Presidential citation on Anthony C. Meager, outgoing UNICEF representative in the Philippines.
After the award rites the President received:
1) Vice Mayor Eduard L. Cates of Jackson City in Mississippi, who presented the President with certificates making him and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, honorary citizens of Jackson, Vice Mayor Cates likewise presented the President with a certificate making the latter honorary fire chief of Jackson.
2) Morris O. Cottle, Daniel H. Weaver, and John E. Kyle, director, associate director, and director of public affairs, respectively, of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, who presented the President with a book entitled “Farewell to Eden,” and a report on their activities last year in the Philippines.
3) Reps. Pablo A. Malasarte of Bohol, Jose G. Puyat of Surigao del Sur, Fermin Z. Caram, Jr. of Iloilo, Tito M. Dupaya of Cagayan, Constancio B. Maglana of Davao Oriental, Eduardo M. Cojuangco, Jr. of Tarlac, Andres A. Cosalan of Benguet, Rafael B. Legaspi of Aklan, Eduardo R. Gullas of Cebu, Rafael C. Aquino of Sorsogon, Antonio M. Diaz of Zambales, Simeon M. Valdez of Ilocos Norte, Joaquin Ortega of La Union, Emerito S. Calderon of Cebu, and Amando D. Cope of Albay, all of whom discussed with the President local problems.
4) Fiscal Florentino de la Peña of Cagayan, who took his oath of office before the President.
Those who conferred privately with the President were Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile of National Defense, Senator Alejandro Almendras, Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, and Commissioners Rolando Geotina.and Baltazar Aquino of the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Public Highways, respectively.
While engaged in desk work, the President submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation the nominations of Blas F. Ople as secretary of labor and of Vicente P. Rodriguez as treasurer of the Philippines.
Also submitted by the President were the nominations of nine individuals to posts in the judiciary and in local governments.
The Mindanao situation is getting worse.