I am now in Malacañang as I had to hurry back to meet Dr. Sani, representative of Indonesia, who was sent to impress upon me the need for Sec. [Carlos] Romulo to attend the Djakarta conference called by Foreign Minister Adam Malik of South East Asian or rather Asian countries to see if we cannot solve the Cambodian question. Met him and Sec. Romulo at 4:30 PM. Arrived at 2:35, showered and slept for 30 minutes. Then conferred with my Executive Secretary, Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile, Com. Edmundo Reyes on the Yuyitung case. They explained that these two brothers were both planning a sudden disappearance and were also in danger of liquidation by rightist elements.
Registration of guns liberalized—Sec. Ponce Enrile ordered.
Entry is mislabeled as April 7.
Official Gazette for May 7, 1970: President Marcos said that contrary to some reports, the Muslim Filipinos “are not thinking of participating in any secessionist movement out are very loyal to the Republic.”
In an interview at the clubhouse of the Dole (Philippines) plantation m Polomolok, the President said: “I am glad that the Muslims are not thinking of participating in any secessionist movement but, on the contrary, are very loyal to the Republic of the Philippines. I have received pledges from Muslim leaders of southwestern Mindanao to this effect.”
“I have received messages from the alleged secession leaders denying the supposed movement and vowing to fight on the side of the Republic against anyone who wants to wreck it,” he said.
The President said he made the trip in connection with Mindanao Week and in order to learn of the people’s problems without, their having to go to Malacañang.
Among these problems, the President said, were: 1) Reports of infiltration from the South; 2) Unsolved killings in Sulu and Cotabato; 3) Reported secession movement.
The President said he would send medical teams to Sitangkai and Sibutu where there are no rural health officers. The President also ordered that both the military and the Bureau of Telecommunications set up radio stations at Taganak Island.
The President flew to the Dole plantation where he met with Gov. Sergio Morales and Rep. James Chiongbian of South Cotabato, Secretary Manuel Elizalde, Jr. of PANAMIN, Lt. Col. Cirilo Bueno, PC provincial commander and Surallah Mayor Jose Sison. The President told the conferees to settle the dispute between the PANAMIN and Christian settlers and the Muslims led by Datu Plang and Datu Ma Dusa.
After the conference, the President flew back to General Santos and boarded the presidential plane for Manila. Immediately upon arrival the President received in private audience a personal emissary of Indonesian President General Suharto to receive a message from the Indonesian President and to listen to Indonesia’s proposal for a meeting in Djakarta of Asian countries to discuss the Cambodian situation this month.
The emissary, Dr. Anwar Sani, director-general of political affairs at the Indonesian foreign ministry, outlined to the President Indonesia’s views on the proposed meeting, emphasizing its urgency in the light of current development. The President expressed the view that it seems most desirable that a new Asian initiative be launched to produce such a “constructive formula” for the troubled area.
Dr. Sani was accompanied to Malacañang by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo and the resident Indonesian ambassador here, Kusno Utomo. The audience lasted 15 minutes.
Status of investments and incentives with Leo[nides] Virata and [Antonio] Tony Ayala.
Then worked out the position papers for the Executive Committee Meeting of the National Security Council for Saturday. Meeting of the Foreign Policy Council on Tuesday.
Greg [Gregorio] Licaros leaving Sunday on the restructuring of the dollar loans. Worked out the details with Cesar Virata.
Boy Tuason died in a PAC plane crash at 8:00 AM. One of the engines caught fire on takeoff. The pilot tried to turn back and crashed instead. Ja[i]me Zobel who was hurrying home from Sibutu was supposed to be in that plane if he were not with us kept by Imelda from returning.