216,000 firearms have been surrendered as of this morning report. The 3rd PC [Philippine Constabulary] Zone turned in about 103,000.
There was a robbery last night of the Philippine Veteran’s Bank, Quezon City Branch. The robbers killed the two guards, placed them inside the vault, closed it and took P300,000 and $100,000. The Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] and CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] are still working at it. Looks like an inside job because the vault was opened by the robbers.
No further development in Marawi City other than that the APC [armored personnel carrier] in Balabagan could not be moved so the Army is sending an APC from Gen. [Rafael] Zagala here in Fort Bonifacio.
Met Glendon Rowell and Jack Small of the Reader’s Digest which is thinking of putting in an article about martial law.
Official Gazette for October 26, 1972: PRICES of prime commodities have decreased by as much as 66 per cent this week compared with prices prevailing before the proclamation of Martial Law. In a report to President Marcos, the Secretary of Trade and Tourism said that, based on the price survey made by the Bureau of Commerce, prices of 17 essential food items have registered decreases from one to 60 per cent.
The President, meanwhile, met with his fiscal and economic advisers in an effort to further reduce the prices of prime commodities. During’ the meeting, the President approved the proposal of the chairman of the Development Lank of the Philippines to adopt the concept of socialized prices. Under this concept, items usually used by the high and middle-income groups will remain at their present levels, while the cheaper items ordinarily used by the low-income groups will be reduced.
President Marcos informed a visiting U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID) that emphasis has been given to land reform, rehabilitation and rural electrification in the distribution of U.S. aid to the Philippines. The President discussed the utilization of the initial S30 million aid pledged by U.S. President Nixon to assist the Central Luzon flood victims, together with the $50 million earmarked for their rehabilitation.
Franking privilege to all official communications and papers connected with the conduct of judicial proceedings, was extended by President Marcos. Contained in Presidential Decree No. 26, the privilege allows judges of the Courts of First Instance, Circuit Criminal Courts, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Courts of Agrarian Relations, Court of Industrial Relations, Military Tribunals, and City and Municipal Courts to transmit in the mail, free of charge, all official communications and papers directly connected with the conduct of judicial proceedings.
Newspaper and magazine publishers were urged to use local newsprint in putting out their publications by Secretary of Public Information Francisco S. Tatad. The Secretary endorsed the report of the Board of’ Investments which stated that local paper manufacturers can now satisfy the need of publishers, and their products can compete in both quality and price with the imported kinds.
“Rumor-mongers and those who thrive on dishing out false information inimical to public welfare or that would tend to make the people unduly worry or jittery will be arrested and detained.” This was emphasized by the chief of the Philippine Constabulary in the face of some rumors circulating in the Greater Manila Area and in the province that the Constabulary will conduct a “zone-wide” search or “zone” of whole blocks in attempts to ferret out criminal elements or illegal possessors of firearms. The PC chief stressed that these unfounded stories are false and have no basis in fact.
Messrs. Greenberg and Stempel were accompanied by Cesar Zalamea, their local president. They are worried about their investments in real estate. I explained that the Constitutional Convention had the final say.
Had lunch with AID [Agency for International Development] Deputy Director McDonald and his Asst. Mr. Shoop. They are apparently in favor of a commodity loan of $20 million for Land Reform.
U.S. AID will give a total of $150M for aid; $70M for the old programs; $30M for food aid during the flood, and $50 for the rehabilitation programs.
Before lunch we worked on prices. We will determine what commodities should be socially supported. Then we determine how much is needed and whether we can afford it.
It is my intention to farther bring down the prices by 30-50%.