September 17, 1971

Friday

This morning I ordered the drafting of two proclamations for the gradual lifting of the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus—one for the Visayas and Ilocos down to Pangasinan, Batangas, Catanduanes, Masbate, Marinduque, Romblon, the two Mindoros and the other for Mindanao and Sulu.

I intend to announce the first tomorrow at 2:00 PM and the second a few days afterwards.

The conference this morning was attended by Gen. [Manuel] Yan, Col. [Ignacio] Paz, Sec. Vicente Abad Santos and Sol. Gen. Felix Antonio.

We were going to Mactan to be there tomorrow afternoon when I would have announced the first proclamation then to Cagayan de Oro for the second proclamation but the typhoon has prevented us from travelling. So I have called a conference tomorrow morning instead with all the major service commanders, Gen. Yan, [Romeo] Espino, [Fidel] Ramos, the USND [Undersecretary of National Defense], CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] chief, all Zone and Brigade Commanders and their CIS and Intelligence Chiefs—preparatory to the announcement of the proclamation.

9:30 AM September 18, 1971[1]

Saturday

There are several thoughts that have nagged and bothered me for the past several days.

The media—With the possible exception of Bulletin and Herald, they are still bowing to the communist and the radical propaganda line—Everything Marcos does is wrong.

The communists are still succeeding in distorting news.

There are some officers and men in the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] that are not enthusiastic about the suspension of the privilege of the writ.

While the majority of our people do not want a revolution they are quiet.

The communist front organizations are still active. Apparently the second echelon of leaders have taken over while their first echelon were either arrested or went underground.

I am also disturbed by the statement of Justice Fred Ruiz Castro that the justices are only human and are affected by media, demonstrations and propaganda or what is otherwise known as public opinion—“no matter how hard they try to keep such influence” out of their thinking, there is an unconscious effect on them.

I issued Proclamation No. 889-C which lifts the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus this noon. It is a lifting of the Ilocos provinces from Batanes to Pangasinan, Batangas, Catanduanes, Masbate and all the Visayan provinces as well as Romblon, Marinduque and the two Mindoros.

I announced it at 2:00 PM.

This was after the conference with the Zone and Brigade Commanders, their CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] and Intelligence officers.

I am sure that even this will be criticized by the communist sympathizers.

And what worries me is that those who are fighting complacency and the communists may bring their guard down again.

11:30 PM September 19, 1971[2]

Sunday

Kamp of the New York Times has again misquoted me on Imelda’s running in 1973. He misquotes me as saying [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] (Ninoy) is a communist which I did but with the explanation that he is not an ideologue but a supporter, funder and armer which is just as bad.

Kamp, visiting Isabela, also says there is no sign of insurgency there. He probably wants to see a Vietnam type kind of fighting.

This man is as partial and as one sided as the Liberals.

The suspension is aimed at the legal cadres more than the communist army openly fighting our troops. This latter type we meet in standard military fashion—with force. The legal cadres are supposed to be neutralized by incarceration until the danger is over.

What worries me is this kind of journalism which masquerades as a sincere accurate presentation. It is worse than the openly hostile kind.

The early suspension of the privilege of the writ may have prevented what happened in 1950 when Pres. [Elpidio] Quirino waited for the Huks to grow into a strong fighting force of 14,000 men before he proclaimed the suspension.

Today the organization of the subversives can be shattered before they become stronger.

Yesterday I was asked by Clinton of the Newsweek if there is any possibility of the communists really growing into a serious threat to our republic and I reminded him that the communists who took over other countries were always in the minority but they succeeded in paralyzing [sic] the majority or taking over the leadership of a successful revolution.

It is my hope that I have also shown the way to future presidents who may not have my political strength and my close alliance with the military to use the extraordinary powers to meet threats of subversions.

And this should assure our businessmen that we can protect them from the radicals.

We attended mass and had lunch at Canlubang, Laguna (exactly one hour’s drive from Malacañang—11:00 AM to 12:00) and returned at 2:30-3:30 PM). We exhorted the mayors and leaders including Wency [Wenceslao] Lagumbay to get organized and to start campaigning.

I also explained why I did not lift the suspension in Laguna—the continued activity of the subversives in San Pablo. Los Baños and the U.P. [University of the Philipines] College of Agriculture, Forestry and Animal Industry.

1:15 AM Sept. 21, 1971 September 20, 1971[3]

We spent the whole morning with [Francisco] Kits Tatad, Johnny Perez, [Juan] Johnny Tuvera, Adrian Cristobal, [Mauro] Malang [Santos], Ronny [Rony V.] Diaz, Munding Reyes, [Eu]Logio Balao, Ileana Maramag and [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto on the project of bringing a newspaper or putting up one.

Kokoy [Benjamin] Romualdez is for taking over the Evening News. We agreed to take it over but put up a new one also.

But we would have to be prepared to lose P2 million a year like the Manila Chronicle or the Herald or Evening News.

Hans Menzi says there is no place for another newspaper and what is needed is a merger.

Ninoy [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] has issued a statement claiming that Commander Melody [Benjamin Bie Jr.] is a Marcos Huk and is one of the witnesses to be used against him but that Melody has been set on a mission to liquidate him, [Jose] Diokno etc.

So I was compelled to call him a desperate man and to say I was glad he knew one of the witnesses against him. And that Melody would be protected and not killed as some of the other witnesses against him had been in the past.

Although he claims that Commander Melody was kicked out of the NPA [New People’s Army] 18 months ago and that some high ranking generals (star generals he calls them) reported to him the frustration he has. My guess is that Justice Fred Ruiz Castro told him as I showed the sworn statement last Thursday (Sept. 16, 1971) to him at the dinner in [Bahay] Pangarap.

11:30 PM September 21, 1971[4]

Tuesday

We have Dir. Gen. Wilfred Jenks of the ILO [International Labor Organiztion] as our house guest and we have just come from the dinner we gave in his honor wherein he delivered a long discourse on the problems of Asia a la Gunnar Myrdal.

In 1915 when Pres. [Manuel] Quezon sent Dean Benitez to the ILO in Geneva, he (Jenks) was a senior official who attended to our needs so as to qualify for membership.

[Felipe] Baby Ysmael came to see me with the suggestion that I do not prosecute [Benigno] Ninoy Aquino [Jr.] as Gen. Hans Menzi had suggested. Of course he was asking for help as usual to sell all his property in the Philippines so he can stay in Australia. I told him I could not possibly help him in this.

[Joaquin] Chino Roces and [Eugenio] Heny Lopez [Jr.] refused to come to visit with me in a gathering of the publishers. Heny Lopez says their position has not changed. Chino Roces told Hans Menzi who conveyed my invitation that there was no use in accepting the invitation since I would ask him to do something and he would merely have to refuse me or say yes and not be able to comply.

I had a no holds barred session with about 200 girls from Assumption. The leader a Miss ______ Dizon started out with the statement that they came with their minds made up that they were against the suspension of the privilege of the writ. I was patient with them although I was emphatic in answering the question “you said our country would be great—where is the greatness?” I answered, “The mere fact that you can come here and show interest in what your government is doing is a form of greatness.” Then I had to tell them of the many things they took for granted because they are now a part of our life.

“Let us disagree because apparently your mind is made up but let us not be disagreeable.” I finally ended up when Miss Dizon said they felt they were not getting their message across.

I suggested that she and the others tell me why you think my decision in suspending the privilege of the writ is wrong, “You admit that my exercise of the power is legal and you do not question it. You admit that I am in a better position to know the facts. If you do, then tell me why you think or feel that you are right and I am wrong?” I asked.

They could not answer so I could sense that they were merely against it because of the guidance of some other people—not because of their understanding of the question or their beliefs on the subject.