What is the truth about the raid on the Novitiate of the Sacred Heart at Novaliches? Was there any basis for the raid?
The truth is that there was reason to mid the Novitiate as Father Blanco even before Martial Law had been advocating revolution. Four participants in the “Reflection” as the conferences were called by the detained, had presented proofs that the meetings were subversive. And on this particular meeting on the 26th (Monday) Jose Maria Sison and Bong Gallego both of the CPP [Communist Party of the Philippines] and NPA [New People’s Army] were supposed to rendezvous in the Novitiate.
The truth is that the Novitiate had been used (I cannot believe that this is without the knowledge of the priests therein) by subversives and as the PAG report that was taken in the raid states, the subversives are aware that I have been tolerant of this because I do not want a confrontation with the church so they find church property a sanctuary.
This is demonstrated by the cases of Father Jalandoni who joined the NPA, Hagad who documented his anti governmental activities in a letter and in his joining the Sulu secessionists, Abao who was caught with firearms as well as Yushingco and Naen who was printing subversive propaganda in the La Satellite compound.
Official Gazette for September 1, 1974: THE PRESIDENT ordered the Government Service Insurance System to speed up the construction plans for modern Manila Hotel. The Chief Executive issued the order to GSIS General Manager Roman Cruz Jr. following the call of S. Bechtel, head of a well-known construction firm. The President said the renovated hotel should be operational by 1976. He, however, stressed the need to retain the hotel’s present facade while making the rest of the building’s facilities as modern as possible. He also noted that Manila Hotel has been associated with so many historical events of the country that it has become a sort of national museum.
THE GOVERNMENT will not institute new tax measures to sustain its policy of an expanded economic activity as a means to cushion the impact of the worldwide inflationary pressures. Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata said that the present tax policies are suffering since there is more than enough cash balance in the government securities to sustain its operation. The finance official added that the government has started to phase out the operation of premium duty on export items and probably by next year, the export tax shall have been scrapped altogether. This indicated that the country’s budding export earnings are sufficient to meet the needs of government operations.
DEPARTMENT of Trade said that the country’s exports to Australia had increased in 1973 compared to the figures in the previous years. A study conducted by the Trade Department on the effects of general system of preference for Philippine exports to Australia showed that last year the total Philippine exports to Australia amounted to $17 million against the 1972 figure of $8 milion. The increase of Philippine exports to Australia was largely due to intensive export promotion drive launched by the government coupled by the recent world inflationary trends. Among the leading export products to Australia in 1973 were logs, lumber, handicraft products, crude coconut oil, desicated coconut and furniture, among other things.
RETIREMENT plan for private school teachers and other school employes will be enforced starting next school year. The retirement plan, which was approved by Education Secretary Juan L. Manuel, is aimed at giving a sense of security to both teaching and non-teaching personnel. The scheme would require all private schools to grant retirement disability and death benefits. Secretary Manuel approved the benefit scheme alter consulting with officials of private schools and private school organizations.
I would say there are about twenty priests and an equal number of nuns against the administration. The great majority are for it.
But the Armed Forces could have been more sophisticated. They need not have made a raid with uniformed men.
And they might have been too forceful and disrespectful.
They could have merely penetrated the subversive organization and put in more assets as members who could thus could [sic] be used as witnesses.
I have ordered that no more raids be conducted on church premises although what appears in the media is that raids are banned without the approval and presence of the church institution head or his duly authorized representative.
I am optimistic about the participation of Sec. Gen. Mohamed Hassan El Tohamy who has just been ferried by Gen. [Hans] Menzi from Jakarta. He came from Kuala Lumpur (he left Manila on the 25th) was in Singapore on the 29th after seeing Tun Abdul Razak on the 28th, and met Adam Malik in Jakarta on the 31st.
He may be something of a braggart but precisely his self-confidence or ego might just carry him through.
I met him at 8:30 PM after he landed at 5:45 PM at the MIA [Manila International Airport]. He reports that Tun Abdul Razak has given him total support in his effort to negotiate a settlement with the rebel leaders of Mindanao.
Tun Abdul Razak while not admitting the presence of any Filipino Muslim rebels in Malaysia indicated that Tun Mustapha, with whom the claims to be at loggerheads, could get in touch with the rebels.
Sec. Gen. Tohamy says he will work directly with Tun Mustapha through Col. [Muammar] Khadafi of Libya whom he says he dealt with under [Gamal Abdel] Nasser at the start of Kadafi’s take over from King Idris and whom he believes, he can convince to stop giving aid to the rebels through Tun Mustapha by offering a more constructive of development of the Muslim areas.
This is what attracts me most—his direct contact with Khadafi. No one has so much as suggested he could even talk to Col. Khadafi on the Mindanao question. He, alone, has come up with this key proposal.
Of course, as he himself, has said Adam Malik confirmed the fact that when Nur Misuari saw Pres. Soeharto in Manila last May he had asked for support for the creation of a secessionist and independent state, and Pres. Soeharto informed him that he, Misuari, could not expect support for this proposal.
Tohamy repeatedly assured us he would oppose such a proposal. And, of course, the Islamic Conference resolution rejects secession as a solution although it refers to a political solution.
So I told Tohamy we would be willing to give the rebels a share of government appointing governors, mayors and heads of barangays that are chosen by the Muslims as a whole, but that they have to be united in this desire otherwise there would be fighting all over again.
Elections in Muslim localities only after they have laid down their arms.
No dealing or negotiations with outlaws and communists.
Education, economic and social projects. Land for the Muslims.
He spoke of Abu Dhabi supporting the Muslim educational program of the Muslims in Thailand.
Communications between the Welfare and Relief Organization and Cairo and Egypt.
As the plan is now, Tohamy meets the rebel leaders at Cairo or Jeddah—as sent there by Tun Abdul Razak or Tun Mustapha and holds preliminary meetings first with Nur Misuari and later with other rebel leaders.
I must send an ambassador to Egypt immediately so I can use him.
Tun Abdul Razak told Tohamy he was willing to hold a Tripartite Summit meeting after the settlement of the Mindanao conflict.
Tohamy also told me that he told Tun Abdul Razak upon the latter’s inquiry that no one should make any demands of anybody’s territory, referring to Sabah.
I was non-committal although I felt this should not be an issue in the settlement of the Mindanao conflict as this would complicate the negotiations although as I told Pres. Soeharto we would be willing to agree that we recognize existing borders without talking of the Sabah claim.