I have not met anyone who has not congratulated me for the Impact, Max Soliven interview.
Met [George] Callaris, the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] man in the U.S. Embassy. He did the study on Isabela. And will do a study in the front organizations.
The radio programs for the individual senators are woefully deficient. So I worked on the funding and the various omnibus programs on TV and cinema by the Escudero group.
Tonight I also met the Dept. of Justice, State Prosecutor [Emilio] Gancayco and Sol. Gen., CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] and Col. Nananiego [sic] [Tagumpay Nanadiego] on the investigation to be conducted by them to assess the evidence against the detainees in Camp Crame and those implicated by witnesses.
Then met the legal panel on the libel case which has decided to file the case against Sen. [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.].
Official Gazette for October 20, 1971: President Marcos was guest of honor and speaker at the opening of the 8th General Assembly of the Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU), held at the Malacañang Ceremonial Hall in the afternoon. Before addressing the regional gathering, the President received the delegates and observers from 56 member-countries and United Nations agencies, as well as chiefs of the diplomatic missions in the Philippines who graced the affair.
In his speech, the President reminded radio and television broadcasters of their responsibility in enlarging the consciousness of the public and giving it an idea as to its identity and direction. He said that no other medium quite parallels the reach and impact of radio en the lives of so many, adding that not even print approximates the immediacy of broadcasts methods or the speed of their transmission of news and information to their audiences.
In the Philippines, the President said, “mass media have been a strong force in keeping our citizens aware of national issues and directions, despite the diversity and fragmentation of our geography.”
“In Asia,” he said, “media plays an indispensable role in nation building so that it must be preeminently social in its outlooks which must be progressive.” Yoshinori Maeda, president of the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation and of the ABU, who spoke for the delegates and delivered the opening remarks, thanked the President and the Filipino people for hosting the convention. He expressed confidence on the ability of the ABU to continue promoting the interests of its member nations. Following the opening rites, the President received the delegates at cocktails held at the Palace Reception Hall.
The President attended to urgent state papers and other state business in the morning. Toward noon, he had an interview with Elmer Lower; president of the American Broadcasting Corporation. Early in. the afternoon, the President received the parents of two non-participant young victims of the violence that attended the Caloocan demonstration on October 5, and another wounded youth who came with his mother. Accompanied by Mayer Macario Asistio, those who called on the President concerning the misfortune that befell their sons were Abelardo Antonio and Ernesto de Lara, Sr., whose sons died from injuries suffered during the demonstration.
The wounded victim who came with his mother was Segundino Fernando. He was still nursing wounds on both legs and came to Malacañang in crutches.
The President commiserated with the parents of the victims, and asked them to inform him of any help he could extend to them.