Gave another P300,000 to Rizal through Frisco San Juan and Bibit Duavit; another P300,000 to Iloilo through Joe [Jose] Aldeguer, Gloria Tabiana, Mariano Peñaflorida and Nene Caram the latter receiving P100,000 of it for Iloilo City; P226,000 to [Mohammad] Ali Dimaporo for the two Lanao’s; Caloocan—
So the expenditures mount.
But settled the Lanao del Norte problem by first calling all the leaders together with the military, having them confront each other with their mutual grievances (the Muslims believe that Lt. Duran of the PC [Philippine Constabulary] with civilians and soldiers massacred innocent Muslims in Magsaysay while the PC believes the first cousin of Ali Dimaporo led the later attack on Magsaysay AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] detachment and the ambush of the reinforcements resulting in 3 officers and 14 EM KIA [killed in action]; as clarified the PC led by Lt. Duran were rooting out some Christians who had attacked the Muslims in Magsaysay and
Official Gazette for October 30, 1971: President Marcos held a confrontation meeting with military top brass and civic authorities of Lanao del Norte arid Lanao del Sur and convinced them that the only way to end violence in the two provinces was by cooperating with one another.
With the approval of other top officials, and civic and religious leaders from the two provinces, the President forged an agreement for the solution of the peace and order problem obtaining there.
The President warned that should the formula fail, it was “my intention to organize a special unit to operate in Lanao del Norte immediately after the elections, with the active participation of Muslims, especially in local governments.”
After the two-and-a-half hour conference, during which both sides expressed mutual recriminations and blamed each other for the outbreak of violence, the President ordered: 1. The establishment of a liaison group to clarify any misunderstanding between the two groups for the apprehension and arrest of all outlaws, whether Muslims or Christians. 2. The assignment of Muslim officers in joint commands with Christian officers in the PC command in Lanao del Norte. 3. The withdrawal of any troops not belonging to the regular PC unit from the province of Lanao del Sur. 4. The release of ₱100,000 for the relief and assistance to be extended to evacuees from Lanao del Norte and had gone to Lanao del Sur. 5. The study of the need to postpone elections in Lanao del Norte where it was reported that there are many ghost towns.
The President also announced that he was offering rewards for the capture, or for information leading to the capture of leaders or members of outlaw bands, or of the surrender of firearms: He asked Rep. Ali Dimaporo, Brig. Gen. Mamarinta Lao ret. and Vice Gov. Malamit Umpa to meet immediately with Undersecretary of National Defense Efren I. Plana, Gen. Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Rafael Ileto, PA commander, to work out a joint operations plan. This joint operations plan would be carried out jointly by the military and the Muslim communities against all outlaws, with the Ilagas as priority targets as well as Muslim outlaws.
Among those present at the conference which ended at 2:30 p.m. were Senators Mamintal Tamano and Leonardo B. Perez, who is chairman of the Senate committee on national defense; Undersecretary Plana; Gen. Yan, Maj. Gen. Romeo Espino, vice chief of staff; Gen. Ileto, Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan, Cols. L. T. Penares, G. A. Pecache, C. C. Campos and I. de los Reyes; Lt. Col. M. B. Bangcola; Rep. Dimaporo, Vice Gov. Umpa, Gov. Mandangan Dimakuta, former Gov. Madki Alonto, former Rep: Amir Mindalano, Gen. Lao, Datu Asis Mindalano and Rev. Robert McKinnie of Lanao del Sur.
Earlier in the morning, the President received some callers, most of whom were mayors and barrio captains who discussed local matters with him.
The President devoted the rest of the day to other urgent matters of state and paper work.
the PC killed two captured two more with guns whom they had in the stockade ready for interrogation and Ali Dimaporo and his men were ready to join the AFP in fighting the outlaws).
So we organized a liaison group of civilians to guide the troops to the outlaw lairs with a reward of P5,000 at least for each outlaw leader and at least P2,000 for each outlaw member and at least P200 for each firearm captured.
Gen. Marinta Lao is to help out with Ali Dimaporo and Vice Gov. [Malamit] Umpa to coordinate the liaison.
I released P100,000 for the Muslim evacuees of Lanao del Norte now in Lanao del Sur.
Withdrew all troops from Lanao del Sur except regular PC units with the local governments assuming responsibility for peace and order.
Ordered the Sec. of National Defense with the Comelec [Commission on Elections] to determine the advisability of postponing the elections as recommended by Cong. Ali Dimaporo.
I met the Nueva Vizcaya Capitanes del barrio, mayors, vice mayors, councilors and leaders on the visit of the Sen. Leonardo Perez group (all mayors except that of Diadi) to discard the agreement to have Gov. [Patricio] Dumlao [Sr.] as a common candidate since he was not supporting the mayors but had put up his own candidates against them.
They agreed on a fair fight with all of them supporting the Nacionalista senatorial line-up.
Then met Amb. [Henry] Byroade at 8:30 PM who told me the Senate led by Maj. Floor Leader [Michael] Mansfield had rejected all foreign aid in toto. And that we are getting three LSTs [Landing Ship, Tank], five helicopters before the year, but no transport planes.