May 9, 1970 as I had Malacañang

[1] Official Gazette for May 9, 1970: P resident Marcos worked uninterrupted through most of the morning, with his schedule of visitors all clear. At about noon, he conferred with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, and Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., who came to submit the report of the executive committee of the National Security Council, which met earlier in the morning. The President went back to the study of state papers till about 12:30 p.m. when he motored to the Manila International Airport to greet Australian Prime Minister John Gorton and Mrs. Gorton, who were making a brief stopover in Manila enroute home to Sydney from Osaka. In the 30 minutes the Gortons spent at the MIA, the President and Prime Minister Gorton has only time for casual conversation. As soon as the Australian Air Force plane, took off with the Gortons , the President motored back to Malacañang. He went back to his study to work further on state papers at mid-afternoon. He remained at work through the rest of the day. Among other actions, the President: 1. Designated Alfredo Pio de Roda as acting Undersecretary of Finance vice Undersecretary Roman Cruz, who was named acting GSIS general manager. 2. Directed the Philippine Navy to ferry to their home province the remains of the 13 persons who were killed in a house in Fort Bonifacio when a plane crushed there last Thursday. The President made available the services of the Navy on the representations of Representative Cornelio T. Villareal, who sought to help the families of the unfortunate victims bring back to Sapian , Capiz the remains for burial. 3. Directed the foreign office to lend every possible assistance to the families of deported Chinese nationals, Quintin and Rizal Yuyitung , to gain free access to Taipei in order to visit the two deported nationals.

[2] Official Gazette for May 10, 1970: P resident Marcos ordered the immediate relief of a watchdog team on log exports found guilty of extortion activities while on official assignment in Mindanao. Ordered relieved on recommendation of Lt. Gen. Pelagio Cruz (retired), chairman of the Anti-Smuggling Action Center (ASAC), were Conrado Unlayao of the Bureau of Customs and Antonio Lizardo of the Bureau of Forestry, team leader and member, respectively, of a composite team operating in Davao. The team was specifically assigned in the Davao area to prevent dollar hoarding through undervaluation of log exports. In another move, the President laid down the policy favoring the carrying of firearms. At the same time, the president ordered Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile to effect a simplified program for the registration of all firearms in the country. The President issued this directive following his recent trip to Mindanao where he received numerous complaints concerning the difficulties encountered by possessors of firearms who wanted to register the same. While this machinery is still under preparation, the President authorized owners or assignees of motor vehicles used for personal or official business, to carry firearms while travelling in their respective motor vehicles. This authority applies to those with permits to possess firearms, “but without specific permits to carry the same outside of residence.” The new order in effect makes a person’s motor vehicle an extension of his residence.

[3] Official Gazette for May 11, 1970: P resident Marcos again held a round of conferences with both public and private officials, while also receiving a number of callers. In-between, he worked on state papers in his study. In addition, he attended the organizational meeting of the League of City Mayors as guest speaker, held at the Manila Hotel. The President’s first conference was with officials of the Philippine Air Lines, attended by PAL President Benigno Toda, Jr., Buenaventura Velos and Rafael Igoa , both of PAL; and Secretary of Commerce and Industry Ernesto Maceda and MIA Manager Luis Tabuena . After this conference, the President met with representatives of the Philippine Public School teachers Association (PPSTA) with Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., GSIS Chairman Benjamin del Rosario and Fernando Santico , GSIS board member, also present. The PPSTA delegation sought representation of public school teachers in the GSIS boud of trustees. Those who spoie for the organization were Ardres M. Fonacier , PPSTA president: Arturo U. Armas , vice president; Santos P. Pascual, general manager; Leonido V. Razo, Manuel B. Adivoso , Cayetano Tejano, Melanio L. Mallari, Gregorio Baguioro , Prisco F. Castro, Pacifico A. Lota and Esmeraldo R. Acorda , president for Zamboanga del Norte, Camarines Norte, Bohol, Davao City, San Carlos   City, Masbate, and Enlisted Personnel of the Philippines, respectively; Board Members Celta P. Reyes, Fictoriano A. Pasiliao , Francisco P. Orillos , Trinidad R. Estrada, Matilde F. Padernal , Johnny A. Santos. Paciano T. Simbajon and several others. The third conference of the day was with Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy- Changco , Representative Jose Alberto and Senator Dominador Aytona . The President took up the government’s fiscal concern with the three officials. He also received Ted Tyderligh , Australian business executive, who made a courtesy call. The visitor was accompanied by Senator Helena Benitez and local business executive Rey Navarro. In the afternoon, the President motored to the Manila Hotel to attend the founding ceremonies of the League of City Mayors, where he gave the keynote speech and inducted the League officers. “In government, I can see no group of officialdom more qualified to take the vanguard in generating and managing change than local executives, particularly those in our cities,” lie said. “In many ways, they will be the leaders in this decade and the nest most deeply engaged because the cities are the political economic and social centers of the country.” he added. The President urged the city mayors to begin participating more actively in the planning and implementation of programs that will enhance the growth of their communities. He appealed to the city executive to initiate plans for the development of industries, creation of more job opportunities for the steadily increasing metropolitan population, to upgrade the maintenance of peace and order, to promote the effort against air and water pollution and to press slum clearance, beautification and other urban improvement programs. The President pledged the assistance of the Presidential Economic Staff ,   the National planning Commission and other national government agencies in the formulation and implementation of these development program. Returning to Malacañang, he relaxed briefly, then resumed his work in his study. The President directed the National Economic council to prepare a formal request for a pilot housing project under the United Nations Development Program with the Asian Development Bank providing the financing. The President also directed the presidential Economic Staff and the Presidential Assistant on Housing and Resettlement to coordinate with the NEC in pushing through this project.

[4] Official Gazette for May 12, 1970: P resident Marcos met with the Foreign Policy Council to discuss a request for assistance from the Cambodian government of Premier Lon Nol. The Council met for one and a half hours. The Council agreed that the government should await the results of the Asian conference scheduled in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 16 to 18 and wait for the Cambodian situation to clear up before any decision is taken on what aid, other than military, might be sent by the Philippines, if it becomes absolutely necessary for aid to be sent. The Council unanimously agreed that the Philippines attend the Jakarta conference with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs as chairman of the delegation, and the chairmen of the foreign relations and foreign affairs committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, as members; and with the following guidelines: 1. The government does not support the idea of military aid to Cambodia. 2. The government supports the idea of a civilian observers team being dispatched to Cambodia to assess the situation and to report its observations to the member-nations of the conference. 3. The government supports the maintenance of Cambodia’s neutrality. 4. The government is interested that the principles of the first Afro-Asian conference in Bandung be upheld at the Jakarta meeting. It was further agreed that should the question of Laos come up at the Jakarta meeting, the same position vis-a-vis Cambodia should apply. The Liberal Party president, Senator Gerardo M. Roxas , was invited to designate a minority representative in the Jakarta delegation. The Senator however said he would hold judgment on that invitation until after consultation with party leaders. Present at the conference were Vice President Fernando Lopez, former President Carlos P. Garcia, Senate President Gil J. Puyat, Senate President Protempore Jose J. Roy, Speaker Jose B. Laurel, Jr., Speaker Protempore Jose Aldeguer , Secretaries. Carlos P. Romulo of Foreign Affairs, Juan Ponce Enrile of Defense, Felix Makasiar of Justice and Cesar E. A. Virata of Finance, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr.; Senate Majority Floor Leader Arturo M. Tolentino, House Majority Floor Leader Marcelino Veloso, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Narciso Ramos, Senators Lorenzo M. Tañada , Gerardo M. Roxas , Helena Z. Benitez and Wenceslao R. Lagumbay ; Representatives Nicanor Yñiguez , Carmelo Barbero and Aguedo Agbayani; Joaquin P. Roces of the The   Manila Times Publishing Co ., Sebastian Ugarte of the Philippines Herald , Hans Menzi of the  Bulletin , Manolo Elizalde of the  Evening News , Andres Velasco-Go of the  Daily Star  Rodolfo Reyes of the  Manila Chronicle , D. H. Soriano of the  Republic  and Raul Locsin of  Business Day . Baguio City Mayor Luis Lardizabal of the Rotary international, Leticia de Guzman of the Civic Assembly of the Women of the Philippines, Doroteo Martinez of the Manila Lions, Firmo Liwanag of the Philippine. Jaycees and Oscar Arellano of Operations Brotherhood. The President spent the afternoon working on official papers, in the course of which he signed the designation papers of Juan S. Agcaoili as deputy commissioner of the Budget Commission. Agcaoili takes over the post of Fernando Dizon , who retired last February. His nomination was submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation.

[5] Official Gazette for May 13, 1970: P resident Marcos received a number of delegations, notably a group of farmers from Central Luzon, the officers of the Jose P. Laurel Foundation, and this day being Congressmen’s Day in Malacañang, several congressmen. The President also received a group of visitors from the United Arab Republic, including M. Kanem , president of the El Nasr Export-Import Company of Cairo, who suggested that a wider export trade relationship be explored between the Philippines and the UAR Others in the group were M. Sheta , M. Rashdi and Imam Abdul Rhenan . The group was accompanied to Malacafiang by UAR Ambassador Abdel Abdel- hamid Fadel, Representative Ali Dimaporo of Lanao del gur , BOI Chairman Antonio Ayala and UP Professor Gerardo Sicat . Also calling on the President was a group of Spanish visitors. In the group were Coronel Seijas of the Institute Nacional Industria de España , who was accompanied by the Spanish embassy’s charge d’affaires , Jose Maria Otero de Leon; Antonio Llord , Tabacalera general manager; Enrique Sta. Maria, commercial attache ; Vicente Quesada, Defense Undersecretary Manuel Salientes and Col. Salvador Villa. The Spanish delegation presented the President with two C-2 Caliber 9 mm sub-machineguns manufactured in Spain. Otherwise, the President spent most of his working hours at his desk, studying reports and acting on papers. Among others, he signed the papers granting to the Jose P. Laurel Foundation a parcel of land on which the Foundation building will be built. Present at the signing were Speaker Jose B. Laurel, Jr., Senator Salvador Laurel, Dr. Sotero Laurel, former Senator Pedro Subido and Sixto Y. Orosa , Sr., officials of the Foundation. The President reiterated his plan to promote cooperative farming as a new approach to the land reform program. The President told some 110 officers of the Federation of Land Reform Farmers of Central and Southern Luzon, led by Mac Fabian, that he was determined to extend land reform such that the entire country will be covered before his term expires in 1973. Later, the President created a presidential advisory committee on civil aviation, naming as its ex-officio members CAA Administrator Federico Ablan , Jr., Brig. Gen. Jesus Singson, PAF chief; and the heads of existing pilot associations. The President at the same time certified to Congress H. B. 2159, entitled the National Aviation Omnibus Bill, which, among others aims at improving the overall domestic civil aviation facilities, and seeks the creation of an aeronautical special fund.

[6] Official Gazette for May 14, 1970: E xcept for a meeting at about mid-afternoon with a delegation of local airline pilots, President Marcos has a comparatively quiet day devoted mostly to his paper work, including the signing of new appointments, issuance of directives, and the study of official reports. In the meeting with airline pilots, the President threshed out the problems brought up by the delegation and asked for the group’s recommendations on the improvement of domestic civil aviation facilities, as well as the qualifications of a CAA administrator and of CAA personnel. With Capt. Felix Gaston, president of the Pilots Association of the Philippines, as spokesman, the group included Clem Mijares , Rex Reyes, Manuel Collantes , Mike Campos, Eddie Limjap , Manuel Alvares , Roberto Javalera , Roberto Arnaiz and Jesus Nievera. After this meeting, the President returned to his desk work, breaking off only at shortly before 7 p.m. to attend as guest of honor at the awards ceremonies of the 4-H Club, sponsored by the national advisory council of the club and by the Agricultural Productivity Commission at the Manila Hotel. In his speech, the President lauded the members of the 4-H clubs, saying that the awards given to achievers were not only to honor individual achievement but the “ideal of excellence.” He urged the youth to “find its power and its place in society” by using its energies for “production and community work.” Noting the activism of today’s youth, he said that the “democracy in the streets” movement serves a good purpose and gained a measure of positive results, although he disapproved of the violence to person and property. The newly self-realized power of the youth, he said, could also be used through another kind of activism, which has less fanfare, no politics, but is as effective in achieving “desirable ends.” This activism he described as the “4-H way,” adding that “the young man or woman who chooses this path has every opportunity to work for reforms and help bring about needed changes in our society.” Earlier, the President certified to Congress House Bill No. 876 which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 4864 otherwise known as the Police Act of 1966, with a view to hastening the professionalization of the nation’s police agencies. The proposed amendments seek to improve coordination and supervision of local police forces by the Police Commission, to make them more responsive and effective in the performance of their duties. The amendments also seek to strengthen the powers of the local chiefs of police, so they may be more effective in exercising discipline; and to transfer to the Police Commission the powers to conduct police examinations and to approve the appointments of police personnel. These powers are currently being exercised by the Civil Service Commission. The President also submitted to the Commission on Appointments the nominations of 13 municipal judges and seven clerks of courts of first instance. ( L ist of nominees in OG .)

[7] Official Gazette for May 15, 1970: P resident Marcos motored to the Manila International Airport where he conferred with Civil Aeronautics Administration officials on the improvement and expansion of civil air transportation facilities. The President also made a visit to Camp Crame where he checked on the progress of the carnapping campaign at the Philippine Constabulary headquarters in Quezon City. Earlier in the morning, the President held conferences with a number of key officials, at Malacañang. Secretary of Public Works and Communications Manuel Syquio , chairman of the study committee on the improvement of mass transportation in the Greater Manila area, called to submit his report and recommendations. With him was Public Service Commissioner Enrique Medina, one of the members of the committee. A delegation from the Elks Cerebral Palsy Project, Inc. called to thank the President for having proclaimed the period from May 1 to June 30 this year for the project’s national educational and fund campaign. The group included DBP Chairman Leonides S. Virata , the project’s campaign chairman for 1970; John L. Manning, Sr., chairman of the board of directors; Dr Deogracias Tablan , medical director of the main clinic: Mrs. Priscila Dayao , a Tarlac school teacher, and her daughter Ditas , 13 who had been afflicted with cerebral palsy since birth. Among others who conferred with the President at noon were Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile and Representative Ali Dimaporo of Lanao del Sur. In the afternoon, the President went to Camp Crame where Col. Jaime Catral , chief of Trafcon , showed him recovered carnapped vehicles which have not been claimed by their owners and informed him that 42 out of 48 stolen vehicles had been recovered since the anti-carnapping drive was launched last April-27. Then the President proceeded to the MIA where CAA officials briefed him on the progress of projects designed to improve civil aviation facilities. In a move to ensure harmony and consistency in the objectives of the annual budget and long-range development plans, the President created the Presidential Development Budget Committee, establishing the level of annual government expenditures. In a related order, the President created another committee to study the computerization of budgetary and financial reports. In his executive order creating the Presidential Development Budget Committee, the President underscored the need for involving more fully in basic budgetary decision-making all development planning agencies and other principal fiscal agencies of the government. The committee will be headed by the Budget Commissioner, with the chairman of the National Economic Council, Director-General of the Presidential Economic Staff, Secretary of Finance and Governor of the Central Bank as members. The President also certified to Congress the bill creating a Philippine News Agency. The bill seeks an accurate and effective voice of Filipino viewpoints in the international scene while serving as an effective and continuous medium to promote the country’s export and tourism trades. Authored by Rep. Artemio Al. Loyola of Davao del Sur the bill proposes to declare as the policy of the state the provision of “an indigenous means of obtaining information on events occurring in foreign countries upon which an informed public opinion on foreign affairs may be formalized, and of disseminating accurate information concerning the country abroad that will project its rightful image in the international community.” In the pursuit of these objectives, the bill’s author said that the basic tenets of a free press shall be fully guaranteed and maintained.

[8] Official Gazette for May 16, 1970: President Marcos had a series of speaking engagements which kept him out of Malacañang most of the day. In the morning the President left for Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, where he was guest of honor and speaker at the graduation exercises of the Philippine Air Force Flying School. He was afforded full military honors, including a 21-gun salute and a parade and review on his arrival at the airbase at past 9 a.m. After trooping the line, the President delivered his address, presented the Presidential King Award to Cadet Diogenes J. Galindo for the highest overall rating in academic and flying training, and distributed the diplomas and wings to the graduates. Speaking at the graduation exercises, the President called for a national renascence of “social conscience” and “good manners” in the fulfillment of what he described as the true Filipino character, and in the making of a strong and proud Filipino nation. The President also paid tribute to the “long and noble tradition” of the Philippine Air Force of serving the distressed by the daily mercy flights carried out in the name of the sick and the injured, the rural and community work of airmen, and the exemplary conduct shown by the airmen during the recent civil disturbances. “All these,” the President said, “demonstrate the strength of social conscience in the air force,” a virtue which “forms a high integral part in the development of officers and gentlemen.” From Lipa City, the President, motored direct to the PNB building on the Escolta to address another gathering, the 15th National Rice and Corn Convention. In his speech, he appealed to the agricultural sector to convert its products in export commodities, for increased dollar earnings. The President also urged the conventionists to remove rice and corn, and the agricultural industry as a whole, from politics and to organize producer cooperatives. The President said that the reason for the failure of government programs in the past was that too often solutions to problems are nothing but political solutions which are never intended to last more than a few years. He assured the rice and corn producers that the solutions he is undertaking are lasting and permanent, and that he would continue his policy of supporting the rice and corn production program, which he initiated himself. It was 1:30 p.m. when the President left the convention hall for Malacañang. Proceeding direct to his study, the President conferred with CAA Administrator Federico Ablan , Jr., who informed him that the government’s two-year program for the modernization of navigational aids for civil aviation is being implemented on schedule. With the aid of charts, Ablan reported on the progress of the program which the President ordered started in 1969 following technical studies made by experts of the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency and the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board. Following his meeting with Ablan , the President again left the Palace at about 2:25 p.m. for Quezon City, this time to inaugurate multimillion dollar rice processing plant of the Mindanao Progress Corporation (MPC), the first in Southeast Asia. The vertical integral rice processing plant will not only process export rice but also will extract rice oil from rice bran. Roberto Tullo , MPC president, said that it would have been impossible to set up the plant without help from the government. Before delivering his address, the President, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Tullo , unveiled the marker inaugurating the processing plant. The President had a brief rest at Malacañang late in the afternoon, and then tackled official papers in his private study till evening, in the course of which he: 1. Issued a memorandum circular creating a committee which will review and restudy all pending petitions from public agencies or private organizations for the grant or segregation of government lands. Numerous petitions had been received by the President for the grant of lands of the public or private domain of the government for certain public purposes, or for their disposition and alienation through sale or lease. 2. Signed the rules and regulations of the Price Control Council setting the maximum percentage limit for the prices of essential commodities and thereby launching into full operation the newly-created all-important Council. The Council, which is empowered by law, under Republic Act No. 6124, to fix the maximum selling price of essential commodities, rules that essential commodities mentioned in R.A. 6124 are allowed the following maximum price limit: (a) Production costs plus a mark-up of 10 percent to the manufacturer or producer, five percent to the wholesaler and 10 percent to the retailer if the articles or commodities are locally manufactured, or (b) Landed cost plus a mark-up of five percent to the importer or indentor , five percent to the wholesaler and 10 percent to the retailer, if the articles or commodities are imported.

[9] Official Gazette for May 17, 1970: In Baguio City, President Marcos held a series of conferences with local officials who briefed him on pressing problems in their respective jurisdictions. Accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, the President arrived in Baguio City shortly before 1 p.m. from Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union where he landed aboard the  RPS 777  after an overnight voyage from Manila, At Poro Point, the President was met by a delegation of La Union officials headed by Governor Juvenal Guerrero, Representatives Jose D. Aspiras and Joaquin Ortega, and San Fernando Mayor Lorenzo Dacanay. After hearing Mass aboard the ship, the President and the First Lady disembarked and motored up to Baguio via the Naguilian road. At the Baguio City boundary they were met by another delegation of officials headed by Mayor Luis Lardizabal of Baguio City. The President held conferences with La Union officials and Baguio City officials upon arrival at the Mansion House. Focusing on paper work later on, the President issued an executive order reviving the total ban on the slaughter of carabaos and buffaloes as a means of discouraging carabao rustling, helping conserve work animals and boosting food production. The new order revokes Executive Order No. 100 dated November 2, 1967 authorizing the slaughter of carabaos and buffaloes under certain conditions. The President also issued another executive order creating the Commission on Population to “formulate program recommendations on population as it relates to economic and social development.” The new order, which revoked Executive Order No. 171 issued on February 19, 1969 creating the original Commission on Population, revised the membership of the commission and vested it with additional duties and functions. The President, in his order, reasserted the generally accepted principle that “the population problem must be recognized as a principal element in long-range national planning if governments are to achieve their economic goals and fulfill the aspirations of their people.

[10] Official Gazette for May 18, 1970: P resident Marcos ordered that an operational cash budget be instituted, to supplement the present budgeting system based on obligation. The move was aimed at ensuring the availability of cash resources for priority development projects and at the same time at establishing a better rationale for recommending the level, type and timing of public borrowing. Earlier, the President created the Presidential Development Budget Committee, which committee he also ordered to study the computerization of budgetary and financial reports. All these are directed at ensuring harmony and consistency in the objectives of the annual budget and the long-range development plans, and at establishing the level of annual government expenditures. In this regard, the President underscored the need for involving more fully all development planning agencies and other principal fiscal agencies of the government in basic budgetary decision-making. In order to ensure success in instituting the operational cash budget, the President promulgated the following rules and regulations: 1. The Treasurer of the Philippines shall prepare a monthly estimate of cash inflow into the Treasury indicating probable sources and funds to which they accrue and shall submit such estimates at least 20 days before the beginning of each quarter to the Budget Commission; 2. In submitting the financial work plan and request for allotment to the Budget Commission, every agency shall indicate therein the cash requirements of the agency during the corresponding quarter, broken down into weekly schedule of required cash disbursements; 3. The Budget Commission shall carefully review the monthly and weekly cash disbursement requirements of the agencies to properly relate such total cash disbursement requirements with the estimated total cash inflow in the Treasury. In the same manner and in the same document that the Budget Commission releases the advice of allotment to any agency for the purpose of establishing the obligational authority of the agency, the Budget Commission shall release to the same agency its authorized cash disbursement ceiling for the corresponding quarter, broken down into weekly basis, furnishing the resident representative of the Auditor General a copy of the advice of allotment which it has release to any agency to the Treasury. Cash disbursements of agencies shall be limited as to amount and shall be timed as prescribed in the cash disbursement ceiling authorized by the Budget Commission; 4. The representative of the Auditor General shall not countersign any treasury warrant, check of expense voucher if the disbursement contemplated therein will exceed the cash disbursement ceiling authorized and outside the time schedule for such disbursement ; 5. The Budget Commissioner shall submit to the Presidential Development Budget Committee the Cash Budget to enable the Committee to make adjustments therein if necessary and to recommend borrowings to cover projected cash deficiencies if such eventualities are expected to occur.

[11] Official Gazette for May 19, 1970: P resident Marcos devoted a quiet day working on official papers. He also received a number of local and national officials who came to consult him on state problems and discussed official matters with close aides. The President created a 17-man Citizen’s Committee on Order and Justice, to act as the action arm of the Peace and Order Coordinating Council in the Greater Manila Area. Creation of the committee was recommended by Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. who underlined the need to maintain a civilian or private group in the peace and order campaign. The President also issued a new order revising Administrative Order No. 182 of October 31, 1969, which created the Presidential Coordinating Committee for Social Justice and Agrarian Reforms.

[12] Official Gazette for May 20, 1970: P resident M arcos held a press conference to clarify various points pertaining to the deportation of Yuyitung brothers, the Jakarta conference on Cambodia, and the national security and intelligence fund. Meeting the press at around 12:30 p.m., the President first made extemporaneous remarks, then answered questions from the floor. Sitting with him were Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad , Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, and Immigration Commissioner Edmundo Reyes. The rest of the President’s working day was devoted to state papers, mostly reports from various government offices, and official documents which needed action or his perusal. After a brief rest in the afternoon, the President returned to his study to work well into evening. The President directed Secretary of Health Amadeo H. Cruz to proceed to Cebu on the first available air transportation, in the wake of reported outbreak of typoid epidemic in Tabuelan town. The President ordered the departments of health and of social welfare to send special teams and work closely in the areas in Cebu province reported to have an outbreak of the epidemic.

[13] Official Gazette for May 21, 1970: P resident Marcos reasserted the supremacy of civilian over the military authority, pointing out that his administration has emphasized to the country’s soldiers that “they are servants of the people, and therefore subservient to the people’s will as represented by civilian authority.” This is in keeping, he said, with the principle of popular government where the people make the broad decisions, thus the constituted government and its leaders “must always act in partnership with the people.” In a speech as guest of honor at the joint commencement exercises of the National Defense College of the Philippines and the Command and General Staff College of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, held at Camp Aguinaldo, the President asserted that the military, “being a part of government must therefore adhere unfailingly to this policy, and in every way possible extend and deepen this partnership.”  (F ull text of the President’s speech in OG .) Back at Malacañang, the President resumed his paperwork, bat once again interrupted himself to receive several groups of students who came to present a number of petitions. He granted most of the petitions on the spot, including the certification of certain bills, many of which he had earlier certified already. The rest of the day more or less followed his schedule, with consultations with aides and visiting officials, and receiving callers. In the evening, the President received Admiral John S. McCain, Jr., commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Forces and U.S. military adviser to SEATO, who paid a courtesy call. Accompanied to Malacañang by U.S. Ambassador Henry Byroad e and Rear Admiral Draper Kauffman, commander of the U.S. naval forces in the Philippines, Admiral McCain was on a brief stop-over in Manila enroute back to his headquarters in Honolulu after visits to Tokyo and Taipeh . Among other actions, the President reappointed officials of the government whose nominations were by-passed by the Commission on Appointments, except members of certain government boards whose qualifications the President would like to review. Under the law, officials whose nominations were not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments cease to hold office upon the adjournment of Congress. The President made the reappointments to avoid possible disruption in the service. In another speech the President affirmed the youth’s right to demand change, but urged that change should be pursued in the “libertarian tradition of Rizal and the reformers of his time.” Speaking through Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. who read his speech, at the opening of the National Youth Congress sponsored by the YMCA of the Philippines, the President asked the gathering to “strengthen the case for reason and restraint in the revolution for reforms.” Contrasting the militants’ adherence to the Maoist dictum that “power grows out of the barrel of gun,” to Rizal’s advice to the young that “our hops lies in the education of our people, in their liberation from illiteracy, hunger and injustice,” the President said that Rizal is more relevant to our times. Saying that the YMCA of the Philippines is identified with the peaceful approach to change, he expressed confidence that one of the valuable contributions of the youth congress to the student movement is “to strengthen the case for reason and restraint in the revolution for reforms.”

[14] Official Gazette for May 22, 1970: P resident Marcos highlighted his working day with a meeting with the Foreign Policy Council to hear the report of the Philippine delegation to the Jakarta talks on Cambodia, headed by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo. The Council agreed with the observation of the Philippine delegation that the Jakarta meeting had been useful in gathering the views of 11 foreign ministers representing 350 million people, concerning a situation of immediate concern to the region. The Council confirmed the support expressed earlier by the Philippine delegation in Jakarta to the efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to organize a bigger conference on Indochina. The Council confirmed its earlier decision of May 12, that the government is against the sending of military aid to Cambodia. The Council favored the sending of humanitarian aid within the framework of a people to people aid program, through the facilities of the Red Cross. In this regard, the council recalled the well-known humanitarian work of “Operations Pakikisama ,” which was instrumental in collecting private donations of clothing, food and medicines in the Philippines for distribution among the displaced population of South Vietnam. It was proposed that humanitarian aid to Cambodia be undertaken along a similar line, under the immediate auspices of civic entities. Present at the meeting were Vice President. Fernando Lopez, Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Secretary of Justice Felix Makasiar , Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad , Senate President Protempore Jose J. Roy, Speaker Pro-tempore Jose Aldeguer , Senator Gerardo M. Roxas , Senator Lorenzo M. Tañada ; House Majority Floor Leader Marcelino Veloso, Representative Nicanor Yñiguez , Representative Justiniano S Montano, former Secretaries of foreign Affairs Narciso Ramos and Salvador P. Lopez, Hans Menzi of the   Bulletin,   Joaquin Roces of the   Times Publications , Leon O. Ty of the   Examiner   and Melchor Aquino of the   Evening News. The rest of the President’s day was divided between desk work, receiving visitors, and ceremonies wherein he conferred honors on two military men who have rendered valuable services to the country. The President also inducted six new officials, namely, Juan D. Manuel, as undersecretary of education: Mrs. Liceria Soriano, director of Public Schools Clodoaldo Leocadio , assistant director of Public Schools; Federico Ablan , Jr., administrator, Civil Aeronautics Administration; Mario R. Reyes administrator, National Cottage Industries Development Authority; and Pompeyo Gregorio, executive secretary, State Scholarships Council. He conferred the Legion of Honor on South Korean General Mun Hyong Tae, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the armed forces of Korea, at a ceremony held at Malacañang in the morning; and in the evening conferred the same award on Admiral Draper Kauffman, commander of U.S. Naval Forces in the Philippines. Among his callers today was a group of newsmen composing the Department of National Defense press corps, who petitioned him to retain Brigadier General Eduardo Garcia as PC chief. In the group were Alex Allan of the   Chronicle,   Rod Villa of the Times ,   J. Panesa of the   PNS,   C. Vega of the   Taliba ,   Teddy Africa of the   Herald,   Tony Sicat of the   Daily Star,   and Joe de Vera of the   Bulletin.

[15] Official Gazette for May 23, 1970: P resident Marcos emphasized the importance of individual responsibility in attaining the objectives of social justice, which he pointed out is a program of action long ago initiated by the government. Apart from the collective or organized response of various entities to the problems of social justice, he said, the individual has also a real and continuing commitment to social justice. In a speech delivered at the opening of the 17th national convention of the manufacturers and producers of the Philippine Chamber of Industries, held at the Manila Hotel in the evening, the President took note of the “many searching questions now being raised about the society we live in, its nature and direction.” Social concern, he said, is not new to the nation, having been the concern of the Philippine Revolution and given new impetus by President Manuel L. Quezon, whose regime was marked by social unrest arising from agrarian problems. By the end of World War II, he continued, “it became necessary to take serious steps towards formulating and implementing a land reform program.” ( F ull text of the President’s speech in OG .) The President, as is his wont on weekends, devoted his working day mostly to studying and acting on state papers. Among others, he directed the   ad hoc   committee working with the Financial Policy Council to study how aid to rice and corn farmers, as proposed by the committee, may be funded from new sources of revenue. The President also created a special committee to make the homecoming of Aurora M. Pijuan , the new Miss International, memorable, in appreciation of her triumph in the prestigious global beauty tilt, which had built-in dividends for Philippine tourism, and the nation in general. In the evening, the President motored to the Manila Hotel where he was guest of honor at the Philippine Chamber of Industries convention.

[16] Official Gazette for May 24, 1970: P resident Marcos confined himself to paper work the whole day. He signed the designations of 34 national officials, to insure the continuity of government operations, following the adjournment of the first regular session of the Seventh Congress. At 11 a.m., the President and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, heard Mass at the Malacañang chapel. The President did not receive callers, and worked only on state papers until evening.

[17] Official Gazette for May 25, 1970: P resident Marcos rounded out his morning’s activities with an appearance as guest of honor and speaker at the opening of the plenary session of the 4th Asia-Pacific Regional Marketing Conference, held at the Hotel Inter-Continental. In his speech, the President underlined the need for Asian unity if progress and continuing growth are to be achieved and maintained. He asked Asian nations to unify and “heal the physical and moral schisms and establish harmony.” The need for cooperation in Asia, he said, is crucial for it is the only way to full development. Earlier in the morning, the President worked at his desk on state papers. Back to Malacañang at about 11:30 a.m., the President received a number of callers, among whom were Secretary Manuel Elizalde, Jr. of PANAMIN, Mrs. Adelina Rodriguez, Representatives Jose de Venecia and Aguedo Agbayani of Pangasinan, and Pablo Ocampo of Manila, and the Philippine delegation to the Second Asian Judo Championship Tournament, scheduled in Taiwan from May 28 to May 31. The group was composed of Florencio C. Catanghal , head of delegation; Major Dominador M. Estanislao , coach; Jess L. Ledesma, representative to the Judo Union of Asia Congress, also to be held in Taiwan: Rogelio Andres, lightweight; Geronimo Dyogi , light middleweight; Narzal Garcia, middleweight; Fernando Garcia, light heavyweight: and Oscar Bautista, open weight. At 12:30 p.m., the President’s last caller left and he had lunch followed by a brief rest. In the afternoon, and through the rest of his working day, the President was closeted in his study, acting on official papers. Among others, the President filled the top posts of the National Electrification Administration, created under Republic Act No. 6038, making the agency operational. Designated chairman of the NEA Board of Administrators was Geronimo Velasco, the president, of Dole Philippines; and named members were Brigadier General Ceferino Carreon (retired), former Public Works Secretary Antonio Raquiza , and Felix Limcaoco . The fifth member of the board, as specified in the law, should be the administrator of the Electrification Administration, created under Republic Act No. 2717, which is automatically dissolved with the organization of the NEA, and absorbed into the new agency.

[18] 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.

[19] Official Gazette for May 27, 1970: P resident Marcos devoted most of the morning up to nearly noon to state papers. Then he interrupted himself to begin receiving congressmen, Wednesday being Congressmen’s Day at Malacañang. Among the solons who called were Representatives Eduardo Cojuangco of Tarlac, Lamberto Macias of Negros Oriental, Vicente Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur, Constantino Navarro of Surigao del Norte, Felipe Azcuna of Zamboanga del Norte, Godofredo Tan of Quezon, Felipe Abvigo of Samar, Rodolfo Albano of isabela , Jose Neri of Camiguin , Romulo Lumauig of Ifugao, Eduardo Gullas of Cebu, D. O. Plaza of Agusan , Pablo Malasarte of Bohol, Joaquin Ortega of La Union, Jose Puyat, Jr. of Surigao del Sur, Joaquin Chipeco of Laguna, Ali   Dimaporo of Lanao del Sur, and Artemio Loyola of Davao del Sur, who was accompanied; by Governor Ramon de los Cientos and several town mayors. The President discussed with the Davao group, among other things, the needs of the burgeoning sugar industry in the province. In-between receiving congressmen, the President inducted Dr. Lorenzo Ga. Cesar, the newly appointed Assistant Director of Public Schools. Among those witnessing the ceremony was the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos. In the afternoon, the President resumed working on state papers. Earlier, the President summoned the top provincial government and party officials of Ilocos Sur to Malacañang to discuss “urgent business,” in the wake of the Bantay incident. High ranking officials of the Philippine Constabulary were also summoned to the conference. The President also took a direct hand in the recent fatal shooting of Domingo Miranda, owner of a nightclub in Reina Mercedes, Isabela by directing the Department of Justice to give the case urgent priority. The President issued the directive in reply to an appeal from the brother of the deceased, Mayor Raymundo C. Miranda of Santiago, Isabela, who informed the President that he had tried in vain to get information on the incident.

[20] Official Gazette for May 28, 1970: P resident Marcos devoted almost all of his working day to state papers, and to problems brought to his attention. Except for a single break in the afternoon from office work, occasioned by his appearance at the ceremonies celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the Presidential Guards Battalion, he remained at his desk. About 4 p.m., the President and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, crossed the Pasig River to Malacañang Park, where the PGB honored the First Couple as the special guests at the guardmen’s anniversary rites. The President trooped the line, then joined the other guests as the PGB a composite honor guard passed in review. In his speech, the President exhorted the guards to improve the quality of their performance and of the unit itself, while continuing to serve flag, country and people. Returning to Malacañang about 5 p.m., he resumed his desk work, continuing through evening. Earlier, the President designated Assistant Director Pedro G. Refuerzo as acting director of Animal Industry, vice Dr. Anacleto Coronel who retired from the service last month. Dr. Refuerzo’s designation follows the President’s policy of strengthening the career service, by entrusting key government posts to deserving officials wh o have risen from the ranks.

[21] Official Gazette for May 29, 1970: P resident Marcos delved into the Bantay incident in a conference with. Ilocos Sur officials, PC and AFP brass, and others concerned with the problem in that province, during which he issued directives on follow-up action. He sternly ordered the arrest and prosecution of the parties responsible for the terroristic acts in the barrio. Present at the meeting, which started around 10 a.m. were Governor Carmeling P. Crisologo , Representative Floro S. Crisologo , Mayor Maria Asuncion Porte, Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, Secretary of Justice Felix V. Makasiar , NBI Director Jolly Bugarin , Chief Prosecutor Emilio Gancayco , General Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; Brigadier General Eduardo Garcia, PC chief; Brigadier General Felizardo Tanabe, 1st PC Zone commander, and Colonel Florentino Dumpit , Ilocos Sur provincial commander; and 24 barrio captains of Bantay . During the day, the President also received a number of callers, including a large delegation representing the Hospital Association of the Philippines, who called after closing its 21st annual convention. The President assured the group that he will implement immediately the M edicare program once funds are available. The group was headed by Dr. Eliodoro Congco , HAP President. Notable among the other callers were Senator Rene Espina and Representative Emerito S. Calderon. In the afternoon, the President devoted his time to official papers and other state business. He worked at his desk through evening.

[22] The Crisologo s of Ilocos Sur, punished two barrios in Bantay for supporting opposition candidates during the 1969 elections resulting in the murder of a former Bantay Mayor and the burning of the Oas Oas Este and Oas Central by their private army led by the Congressman’s son Vincent “ Bingbong ” Crisologo . Marcos was a known political ally of the Crisologo s , w ere relat ed to Fabian Crisologo Ver, the powerful head of Presidential Security. C onvicted of arson and sentenced with a double life sentence in June 1972 Bingbong Crisologo was pardoned by Marcos in 1980. He became a preacher, served as Representative of Quezon City’s First Congressional District, and unsucces sf ully ran for Mayor of Quezon City in 2019. Floro Crisologo was assassinated in the Vigan Cathedral on October 18, 1970 as he knelt after receiving communion.

[23] Official Gazette for May 30, 1970: P resident Marcos mostly attended to state papers, with no visitors scheduled to call at Malacañang, and with only one break, his appearance as special guest at the rites commemorating Memorial Day or American soldiers who died in the World War II battle here. In his speech, the President said that the defense of freedom continues to be a challenge to freemen everywhere, and to Americans and Filipinos—but today rather than make war, both peoples must fight to establish a just and peaceful society in the world. The President worked at his desk all morning, relaxed briefly after lunch, then, at around 4 p.m., went off to Fort Bonifacio for the Memorial Day services. Among other actions, the President: 1. Designated Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto Reyes chairman of the national government division, in the educational and fund campaign of the Community Chest. 2. Pulled out PARGO agents from RICOB, when that agency complained about unnecessary investigations of the agents, which were described as merely harassment. 3. Released ₱14.3 million as financing for vital economic development projects which include the Pantabangan Dam, the Cotabato Irrigation System, the improvement of the Port of Manila and several other ports in the country. Returning to Malacañang, he worked at his desk the rest of the aft ernoon continuing till evening.

[24] Official Gazette for May 31, 1970: P resident Marcos directed Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile to personally bring the victims of the Bantay incident to Manila so that they could give Malacañang a firsthand account of the burning and looting of Barrios Ora East and Ora Center in Bantay , Ilocos Sur last week. The President directed the defense secretary to make available as many aircraft as are available to transport the victims to Manila. At the same time, the President ordered the release of ₱20,000 through the Department of Social Welfare to help the Victims rebuild their houses. The President also directed Secretary of Social Welfare Gregorio Feliciano to go with Secretary Enrile so that he would be able to see for himself how relief is being dispensed to the displaced residents of the two barrios. He likewise asked Gen. Manuel T. Yan the AFP Chief of Staff, to see how military engineers could be of assistance in rebuilding the houses that had been burned down in the two barrios, as well as to report on the progress of civic action work being under taken by units of the civic action team sent by the AFP from Laoag to Bantay . Earlier, the President created a Presidential Advisory Committee on Civil Aviation charged with updating civil aviation policies and upgrading and modernizing air services and facilities “to make air travel one of the safest and most speedy and efficient means of transportation.” The committee will be composed of the chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, the director of Civil Aviation, the commanding general of the Philippine Air Force, and the hea ds of all pilots’ associations.