I have approved the adoption of the communique or declaration by the Foreign Ministers in Kuala Lumpur. I attach the folder of papers to Envelope No. XII.
The Foreign Policy Council meeting for today I postponed to tomorrow so that we could have something definite from KL.
Talked to Chino [Joaquin] Roces requesting him to cast aside any grievances he may have against me and help in the Plaza Miranda bombing solution and other problems.
Exec. Sec. Alex [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] tells me that Greg Perez, his (Chino’s) consultant, has suggested I appoint Chino Roces as Secretary of National Defense. I believe Chino cleared this.
Official Gazette for November 26, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS presented to the Philippine Marine Battalion the Presidential Unit Citation Badge of the Republic of the Philippines for outstanding service and exceptional gallantry and fidelity.
The Philippine Marine Battalion was cited for:
1. Outstanding participation in operations against dissidents in Luzon and pirates and outlaws in the Visayas and Mindanao;
2. Sincere participation in the government’s socio-economic program;
3. High sense of courage and steadfast devotion to duty; and
4. Consistent manifestation of loyalty to the government.
The citation added that because of the firm conviction of the members of the unit in the tightness of their missions, they were able to discharge their tasks with courage and integrity, whenever called upon to undertake hazardous missions.
The unit was also lauded for its integrity and fidelity to duty when it helped police the polls, and participated in the socio-economic program, thus contributing in bringing the government closer to the people.
In presenting the citation, the President said that the Philippine Marine battalion had demonstrated the capability not only of the entire organization but of the individual officers and men, and therefore can be considered as a model for all the units in the entire armed forces.
The President personally pinned the citation badge on Capt. Rodiardo Brown, the unit commanding officer, while the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, placed the citation ribbon on the battalion colors.
Among those present at the Malacañang ceremony were Commodore Dioscoro E. Papa, PN flag-officer-in-command, and Commodore Gregorio Lira, Philippine Military Academy commandant and former commander of the Philippine Marines.
After the award ceremonies, the President received a few callers, and then repaired to his private study to work on state papers, in the course of which he:
1) Signed the designation of Social Security Commissioner Israel Bocobo as acting Undersecretary of Labor.
Commissioner Bocobo fills the post vacated by incumbent Secretary of Labor Adrian E. Cristobal.
2) Appointed five more Liberal Party nominees to vacancies in provincial boards and city councils, in accordance with the decentralization law.
The appointees replaced LP provincial board members and city councilors, who had resigned to run for other elective positions.
Named to provincial boards were Nicholas Baggao (Isabela) and Gregorio Awisan (Mt. Province), while Isidro Rubio (Pagadian City), Conrado Bueno (Baguio City), and Jose Buñi (Roxas City), were appointed city councilors.
But the position is too sensitive to give to a man of deep prejudices like Chino. I will ask him to help in the defusing of the viciousness of media and divert him to some other position.
I have asked Sen. [Leonardo] Perez to bring Gov.-elect Faustino Dy to see me tomorrow evening but secretly. He is actually active with the Maoists and I want to use him as a penetration agent.
Tony Villanueva who wanted to run as governor of Ilocos Sur in lieu of Carmeling Crisologo, it turns out, was asked to do so by the NPA [New People’s Army]. Now he wants to be appointed governor up to December 31st and he says “he will finish the Singsons and their followers.” I presume that he means that he would use the NPA lo do the job of liquidation.
So I have refused to appoint him governor. It seems that he met Jose Maria Sison at the house of Gov-elect Dy in Cauayan.
The “coup” plans of [Eleuterio] Terry Adevoso are being activated. This was predicated upon their taking over the government ahead of the communists—upon the presumption that the latter would. I have ordered the reactivation of our penetration agent.
The Kauswagan massacre by PA [Philippine Army] men of Muslims makes imperative the retraining of all the men in the military.
So I have ordered this.
Intelligence should now emphasize coverage and surveillance of local Chinese.
The KM’s [Kabataang Makabayan] are extorting money from businesses with threats of a strike against their firms. Chino Roces and Adrian Cristobal confirmed this.
I awarded the Presidential Unit Citation to the Marine Battalion under Capt. Brown. So did I award it to the PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion] and PSU [Presidential Security Unit].