Official Gazette for November 23, 1971: President Marcos received the letters of credence of Ambassador Abdul Aziz Farooq of Pakistan, who replaced Ambassador Khurram Khan Panni.
In accepting the envoy’s credentials, the President said “we in the Philippines are fully cognizant of the significance and value of the bonds of friendship and fraternal collaboration which had characterized the relations between our two countries for decades.”
He said that he had “no doubt that an exchange of ideas on our national economic programs will redound to mutually advantageous accomplishments, aware as we are that our two countries have similar aspirations” for the betterment of the life of the people.
On his part, Ambassador Farooq said his people have been watching the Philippines with great interest and admiration, particularly its remarkable progress “under your dynamic leadership.”
He also paid tribute to the Filipino scientists at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños for opening new vistas of self-sufficiency.
The presentation ceremony was witnessed by Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Manuel Collantes, Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A Virata, Secretary of General Services Constancio E. Castañeda, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. and others.
Following the ceremony, the President conferred with Brig. Gen. Florencio Medina (ret.), chairman of the National Science Development Board, on the science program of the government.
The President directed the NSDB chairman to submit a report on the program of researches conducted by the Board during the year, which should include the amount put into each research and the progress accomplished so far. The report, he said, should not be confined only to scientific researches but must also include those made on agriculture and other fields.
At about 11 a.m. the President left Malacañang for Pier 15 in the South Harbor, where he formally received four complete electric power plants and accessories, which the United States government has made available for the rural electrification program.
The electric power plants were turned over to the President by US Ambassador Henry Byroade for and in behalf of the US government. The power plants were taken from dismantled equipment in US military installations in Okinawa, and were shipped on board the USS Schenectady.
In turning over the excess equipment to the Philippine government, Ambassador Byroade said “the US Government is proud to assist the cooperatives receiving the equipment, as well as the larger program of rural electrification which President Marcos and the National Electrification Administration are undertaking for the benefit of the people.”
He also announced that his government would continue to gather similar equipment in order to assist the Philippines under the Trust Fund Agreement, under which the Philippines would pay only about six per cent of the value of such equipment.
In accepting the power plants, the President conveyed the gratitude of the people and government of the Philippines as well as his own “for the continued cooperation and assistance extended to the Philippines as well as for past efforts to strengthen our development and security program.”
Emphasizing the importance of the equipment to the Philippines, the President said that “like any developing country, the Philippines has problems of both security as well as economic and social development.”
The equipment turned over to the Philippine Government consisted of:
1. “KADENA K” Plant for the Bohol Electric Corporation, consisting of one 1,000 KW. and five 500 KW. Generators, with a total capacity of 3,500 KW in 64 crates.
2. “NAHA” Plant for the Capiz Electric Corporation, consisting of one 750 KW. and six 500 KW. generators, with a total capacity of 3,750 KW. in 82 crates.
3. “KADENA AAA” Plant for Catanduanes, consisting of four 500 KW. generators with a total capacity of 2,000 KW. in 44 crates.
4. “BISSHIGAWA” Plant (unassigned) consisting of three 300 KW. generators with a capacity of 900 KW in 53 crates.
I have just finished organizing the materials for two books at the same time. The first is what would be a synthesis of the theories of revolutionary war. There is no such book now. The second would be a Strategy for Economic and Social Development.
In the first book I should emphasize the failure of the other authors to note the vital role played by parliamentary units in insurgency—(Mao Tse Tung referred to it) and propaganda and agitation in subversion, in some parts so paralizing [sic] the will of the people and the ruling groups so that there was no need for aggressive military action.
I attach the report of Sec. [Efren] Plana in the Kauswagan, Bo. [Barrio] Tacub, Lanao killing of 35 Muslims and wounding of 54 Muslims by the PA [Philippine Army] detachment thereat. Report is as of 232200 Nov. 1971.
I have ordered investigation, prosecution and punishment.
I received the new Pakistan ambassador who presented his credentials.
After signing the transfer document, the President and Ambassador Byroade exchanged toasts and later boarded the ship to inspect the equipment.
Present at the ceremony were Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad, NEA Director Pedro Dumol, Governors Vicente Alberto of Catanduanes, Cornelio Villareal, Jr. of Capiz and Lino Chatto of Bohol, US-AID Director Thomas Niblock, Commander David E. Sigsworth of the USS Schenectady, and other officials of both the Philippine and US governments.
In the afternoon, the President directed Secretary of National Defense Efren I. Plana to immediately proceed to Lanao del Norte to personally conduct an investigation on the killing and wounding of some 60 Muslims in that province.
In his handwritten memorandum, the President ordered the prompt prosecution and punishment of all Philippine Army personnel found to have participated in the killing.
He also asked Secretary Plana to explain why PA troopers were used for the special elections in that province, pointing out that at a previous conference with the AFP chief of staff and commanders of all major services, he specifically ordered that the PA troops be grounded in their respective cantonment areas and that all aggressive military operations be stopped during the elections.
“You will take all possible steps to bring the situation in Lanao del Norte back to normal, with the advice of leaders of the Muslim and Christian civilian population,” the President directed in his memorandum.
Among other actions, the President issued Executive Order No. 353, promulgating guidelines to govern the review by government agencies concerned of service agreements between local petroleum concessionaires and foreign oil exploration companies.
More specifically, the guidelines provide:
1. General qualifications and application procedures.
2. The extent to which a foreign entity may participate in oil exploration ventures, under a service agreement with a local petroleum concessionaire.
3. A repayment scheme for all advances in services and financing supplied by the foreign entity.
4. A summary of work obligations.
5. A provision establishing preference employment for qualified Filipinos in all phases of operations.
6. A general guideline for interpretation to insure not only the continued inviolability of the Constitution and the laws, but also to attract a significant amount of risk capital.
The President also directed the law enforcement agencies investigating the ambush of three Japanese businessmen in Makati to leave no stone unturned in the investigation and prosecution of the guilty parties.
At the same time, the President, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, expressed the Philippine government’s regrets to the Japanese government and people on the incident.
The man whom I have asked to start our applied research on rockets and propellants as well as guidance systems came to see me—Max Goldberger.
I attach the papers on the matter. I expect much of this project.
Then went to Pier 15 to receive the symbolic delivery of surplus generators and electrical systems for the US military installations for our rural electrification system.