I met the teachers’ associations including the city teachers associations, superintendents and some principals. They agreed to return to their classrooms next Monday. Some of them boycotted their classes yesterday.
They were friendly and I was sympathetic as I have always been to teachers. As I explained to them I am a frustrated teacher.
So they had a graceful way out. I had approved the 5% cost of living allowance. And vetoed HB [House Bill] 1371 which provides appropriations for 3,000 extension classes. And certified to the regular session of Congress next January Senate Bill 501 which increases the salaries of teachers with the understanding that we would look for a source of funds needed.
But it took us more than an hour. And all my other appointments were late.
Took lunch at 2:00 PM.
But I had to use a mike [sic] and loudspeaker so I could speak to the teachers. I wonder what Dr. [Ariston] Bautista will say about it. I was supposed to remain silent (not use my voice) until Monday.
The transfer of the Loran stations from the U.S. to the Philippines was signed by Sec. [Manuel] Collantes and Amb. [Henry] Byroade in my presence at about 1:00 PM.
Official Gazette for October 10, 1970: Recovering from a throat ailment which had bothered him during the week, the President discussed the problems of public school teachers in a two-hour conference at Malacañang with officials of the Philippine Public School Teachers Association headed by its president, Telesforo N. Boquiren. Accompanied by Secretary of Education Onofre D. Corpuz, the group which met with the President also included officials of the Federation of Public School Teachers Association of Manila, Quezon, Caloocan and Pasay cities.
After his meeting with the teachers, the President witnessed the formal exchange of notes between the Philippine and the United States governments, during which the latter turned over to the former the five long-range navigational aid stations (LORANS). Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Manuel Collantes and U.S. Ambassador Henry Byroade signed the turn-over documents in behalf of their respective governments during the formal diplomatic rites held at the President’s study at the Palace.
Later on, the Chief Executive sent off the Philippine team which will participate in an international shooting meet abroad.
Led by C. C. Castro, the Philippine shooting team called on the President to say goodbye prior to their departure for the international championship competitions to be held in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. The President wished the team members good luck and exhorted them to “bring home the penant.” Accompanied by General Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff, other members of the team included Col. Jaime Villafuerte, president of the Philippine Shooting Association; Lt. Col. Jose Agdamag, Lt. Cdr. Chito Feliciano, Lt. (s.g.) Horacio Miranda, Lt. (s.g.) Danilo Gamboa and T/Sgt Ludovico Espinosa.
I notified Abm. Byroade that the Phil. Navy had occupied Nanshan Island west of Palawan but outside the territorial limits as described in the Philippine Constitution. When he seemed worried that it might cause some international complications, I had to inform him that the island was unoccupied and had been claimed by the Philippines before this. And that we needed the island for anti-smuggling and anti-legal fishing activities.
I did not tell him that we needed it to protect the oil claims in the Palawan shelf.
The congress is turning out to be an exercise in futility. And a vehicle of blackmail. This is rather putting it strongly but it boils down to this. No one there moves unless I can give something in return.
Sen. Alejandro Almendras attacks the administration for not eradicating corruption. He refers to the DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines], GSIS [Government Social Insurance System], SSS [Social Security System], BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] and Customs. He wants something we cannot give.
Yet he got a P5 million loan from SSS in violation of law. He got the Valencia lumber concession in Davao del Norte in violation of law. His tax case in the BIR cannot be touched as yet. He got the Davao del Sur Sugar Central where he got a kickback, contributed a part of it to party coffers without my knowledge then later demanded immunity because of it.
The generals and colonels were confirmed but only after the protégés and pets of the members of the Commission on Appointments are promised positions and assignments they do not deserve. Like Col. Regala who wants to be a general. No. 1 in the linear roster of Colonels in the PC [Philippine Constabulary] but not deserving as he has no TO position for a general.
The minority or opposition is not any better. Cong. [Justiniano] Montano, the minority floor leader, Cong. Ramon Mitra of Palawan and Uy of Tarlac all want something for their silence and non-opposition to bills that are good anyway like the tax measures and borrowing authority bill. One demand is that I release public works funds to them.
I refused to play this game. And the bills were held back because even the majority floor leader, Marcelino Veloso, of Leyte was their spokesman and tool. And he used my name anyway to make promises to the opposition.
At the rate they are going, they will not be able to pass more than three bills in thirty days of session!
This is all nauseating! No wonder the activists talk of revolution!
I probably would too if I were in their place!
Sen. Jose Diokno who claims a reputation of integrity practically begged for P200,000 and then another P100,000 or even more from me and Imelda for his campaign after we had worked for his inclusion in the senatorial ticket in 1969. He would wait in the palace patiently for the money. And was humble and friendly because many of the leaders even in the party he had antagonized with his usual arrogance, ego and selfishness always thinking of his interest alone and never of the friends who helped him.
Now when I asked him to support the bills that were for the general welfare, he had the temerity to retort, “How can I help you when you have not given me anything.” Shades of Judas!
Sen. President Puyat’s god is Mammon. When expenses for the party are needed he is scarce. And yet he clung to the position of Party President like a leech concurrently with that of Senate President to the anger and silent contempt of both Senate President Pro Tempore Jose Roy and Senate Majority Floor Leader Arturo Tolentino.
It was only in the last regular session (1969) that he agreed to give up the Party leadership. But not before I twisted his arm.
His obsession is to break the Jacintos who own the majority stocks of the Iligan Integrated Steel Mill. He has used Peabody in the U.S., the press relations officer of the Philippine American Association to infiltrate into American circles all kinds of adverse information about the management and equity of the IISMI [Iligan Integrated Steel Mills Inc.] so that the World Bank would not restructure the loans to IISMI. The purpose is for a group of Puyat, [Manuel] Elizalde [Jr.], [Ramon?] del Rosario and perhaps the Martels to take over IISMI. But if the loan is not restructured, the Philippine government would be compelled to pay up for the overdue loans as the DBP has issued a guaranty for it.
Sen. Dominador Aytona who is currently facing possible investigation for conflict of interest and violation of the Anti-Graft law is the lawyer and Vice President of IISMI and while being a member of the NEC [National Economic Council], he appeared as counsel for IISMI before the NEC to appeal the decision of BOI [Board of Investments] to allow Elirol (Elizalde Rolling Mills) to establish a cold rolling mill. They already have a hot rolling mill.
At the beginning of the year he started attacking my administration with the hope perhaps to intimidate me into helping the Jacintos. I pointedly told him before the special session that since he was the leader of Bicolandia of the Party he should clarify his position and tell us if he is abandoning the party for the opposition. “Friends do not part without saying goodbye and shaking hands,” I told him. And laughingly said, “We have helped each other in the past and perhaps we have balanced our book of accounts.”
He is chairman of the committee of Finance of the Senate and yet he attacked the appropriation act he was supposed to sponsor and furnished the opposition data that was furnished him as a chairman and party man.
But he turned around and cooperated on the borrowing bill when he realized that he could not intimidate anyone.
The pity of it all is that he has attacked bills that are unquestionably for the public welfare. He went to the extent of saying that we should not borrow from the World Bank which has thru its President, [Robert] McNamara, declared its willingness to lend our government some $270 million—and then he turns around and practically demands that I allow his corporation and client the IISMI to continue borrowing at more onerous terms from among others—the World Bank! With government guaranty!!
The Vice President is apparently campaigning for President for 1973. He is 66 years old and will be 69 by 1973 but this does not deter him.
He pretends scrupulous integrity but they have increased their wealth a hundred times over ever since he has been in public office.
When he agreed to run for Vice President in 1969 they were already operating the Meralco [Manila Electric Company] and owned ABS-CBN. They had promised to share in the campaign expenses but all they contributed was P200,000 given to me in checks by Mr. Eugenio Lopez his brother.
I remember that we had to pay ABS-CBN in advance for TV and radio facilities and time. During the meeting de avance in Cebu we were practically at the stage ready to start the meeting when we were notified the TV and radio coverage were shut down because we had not yet paid for them. They belonged to the Lopezes. So we had to pay through the nose right then and there.
We had to finance the candidates in their own provinces of Iloilo and their island of Panay and campaign there as if it were a hostile area in 1965 and 1969.
They boast that they have never used government credit. But they have used government facilities. Thus they used government land and facilities in setting up the Meralco pipeline from Batangas to the Meralco power plant.
They impose upon the BOI. They charged Com. Tordesillas when he made inquiries about their projects pending in BOI.
They insisted, cajoled and threatened when I refused to appoint Ex-Cong. Mitra to the Monetary Board. I finally had to. And he is using his office to protect their interests.
The Ambassador to Rome, first Ex-Justice [Sergio] Barrera (who had imposed his getting a logging concession as a condition to his acceptance) then Mr. Arenas, his relative.
Now the V.P. wants to give the logging concession, Mindanao Deep, to Mrs. Julie Rufino his mistress by whom he has children. What a scandal!