The Huk Supremo, Pedro Taruc, alias Commander Boyong was killed while resisting arrest by a penetration agent at Tibagin, Angeles City at 1400 hours in intelligence operations of the 10th BCT [Battalion Combat Team] of the 1st Inf. Division and with the 20th BCT formed the Task Force Lawin.
The same unit captured Commander Sumulong [Faustino del Mundo] at Hensonville, Angeles City on Sept. 16, 1970.
So I decorated the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. [Angel] Manacsil with the DSS [Distinguished Service Star] and promoted him with five others on the spot.
The action agent Ato Torres, who used to be the closest man to Commander Sumulong and Boyong was introduced to me by Gen. [Felizardo] Tanabe and Col. [Fidel] Ramos, J-2 [Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence].
Official Gazette, October 16, 1970: President Marcos had a full measure of conferences, callers and usual desk work, which kept him busy throughout the day. Highlighting the morning activities was the presentation of credentials by the newly designated Norwegian ambassador, Lars Geelmuydan Onsager, at a ceremony held in Malacañang. After the ceremony, the President had a closed door conference with Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata, who reported on his mission abroad.
Among the callers were airline executives representing various Asian aviation companies, who paid a courtesy call. Others were the teams competing in the 5-nation basketball tournament marking the anniversary of the Asian Basketball Confederation: a group of mayors from the second district of Ilocos Norte, who consulted the President on their problems; and a few private callers.
In the evening, the President conferred the Distinguished Service Star on Lt. Col. Angel B. Macasil, commander of the 10th Infantry Battalion, which had been directly responsible for the death of Huk Supremo Pedro Taruc earlier in the day and the capture of Commander Sumulong a month ago. Taruc was fired at when he resisted arrest in Barrio Tibagin, Angeles City, Pampanga, resulting in the death of the country’s highest ranking Huk leader. The President also signed the promotions of Lt. Col. Macasil and the other officers who had been credited with the capture and killing of the No. 2 and No. 1 leaders, respectively, in the Huk hierarchy. In presenting the commendation and awards, the Chief Executive repeated his offer of a selective amnesty to the Huks in the wake of the death of Huk Supremo Pedro Taruc in the hands of Philippine Army penetration elements. The President said there will be “sympathy and understanding” for those who will want to return to the fold of law and rebuild their lives. Following the ceremonies, the President and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, played host at dinner for General William Draper, Jr.
On other state business, the President directed the Price Control Council to implement faithfully Proclamation No. 761, signed and issued by him, which declared a state of calamity in seven provinces worst hit by the recent typhoon “Sening.” At the same time, he authorized the local chapters of the Department of Social Welfare and the Philippine National Red Cross to make joint purchases of foodstuff for distribution to typhoon victims in their respective areas of operation. He added that relief work will be done in coordination with the provincial governors concerned. The President also ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to take concrete and, positive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of Filipinos in South Vietnam.
In the presence of Gen. [William] Draper, Dr. [Reimert T.] Ravenholt, his [eldest] brother Albert, I made a few remarks on television. I said that we, and the people, commend the military, the medal given to the 10th BCT CO [Commanding Officer] was given to all the officers and men who have worked on counter-insurgency. But I commend also all the men and women who are engaged in the socio-economic development of the country, who seek with me to improve the livelihood of our people, who build the irrigation systems, the roads, schoolhouses, those in the medical teams who treat the sick—the quiet, unassuming and anonymous who are working at their tasks for the military plays a secondary role and merely complements the main instrument and means to combat communism and that is the socio-economic program. I then appealed to those in the hills to return to the fold of the law to help us build a better, stronger and more progressive Philippines.I know that there will be many surrenders after this.
Now we can concentrate on the NPA [New People’s Army] led by Dante [Bernabe Buscayno].
Called all the mayors of my old congressional district—the second district of Ilocos Norte.
Had lunch with them and we agreed to allow the candidates for delegates to work on their own, then we will assess the situation after ten days. But the leading candidates are Judge Julian Chua, Valenzuela, Greg Purugganan, Dr. Dumanglag, Eng. Julio Reyes, Gil Tabije and Father Hernando. They all asked for support.
Gave the mayors some gifts and talked of old times.
Before that, played golf early, then directed probing flights to Bicol for my trip with Imelda tomorrow, received the report of Sec. Cesar Virata, arbitrated the disagreement of Sen. Jose Roy and Cong. Eduardo Cojuangco, talked to the congressmen and local leaders.
Reimert T. Ravenholt was the US AID Population expert and his eldest brother Albert Ravenholt was a journalist who covered Southeast Asia for four decades from the 1950’s. Based in the Philippines for a time he published “The Philippines: A Young Republic on the Move.” (1962).