Talked to [Jose] Joe Roy after golf. We are checking on the safeguards against the use of the Nacionalista Party name in the campaign for delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Some candidates still insist in support by the party and the party leaders. And we have to keep repeating the policy of non-participation. However we must also get everybody involved in their individual capacity otherwise there may be few people who will vote. As of now only 30% of the registered voters may vote.
And undoubtedly, the local politicians like the governors, congressmen, mayors, vice-mayors, councilors and barrio officials will not stand idly by when the elections this year might affect their political future. The local officials are facing an election next year.
Official Gazette for September 21, 1970: President Marco turned his attention to such current problems as sky hijacking, the new labor-management dispute at the. Philippine Air Lines, and such development, projects as are being assisted by the The President had opportunity to focus on these problems when he conferred with officials equally concerned about them. The problem of sky pirates was examined by the President with Knut Hammarsjold, director general of the IATA. He paid a courtesy call on the President in the morning, accompanied by Benigno Toda, Jr., president of the PAL. Hammarsjold informed the President that the problem posed by hijacking in the air which was taken up at the; IATA conference should not only be dealt with by the United Nations but individual countries should initiate internal legislation to prevent it.
The visiting IATA official submitted to the President his recommendations and proposals on the matter and the President endorsed them for study and evaluation to a technical committee.
The President also informed Hammarsjold that in addition to the administrative measures he had taken to prevent plane hijacking, he would seriously consider certification to Congress of the bill sponsored by Sen. Magnolia. Antonino imposing stiff penalty for robberies committed in flying vehicles, amending for the purpose Sec. 294 of the Revised Penal Code. The bill would impose reclusion perpetua to death when the crime is accompanied with homicide, reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua if followed with rape, intentions mutilation, etc., and prision mayor and prision correctional.
The PAL labor dispute was also discussed when officials of the PAL Employees Association saw the President to press for the early resolution of the workers demands. The group was accompanied by Director of Labor Relations Bureau Amado Inciong. The President asked for time to thresh out the issues with the PAL president. Those in the PALEA delegation were Fortunato Biangco. president; Eulogio Lerum and Antonio Policarpio, counsel; Egdar A. Lubiano, secretary; and Armando Regala, Eddie Miranda, Isabela Espiritu, Agustin Sarto, Pedro Calderon, Artemio Lopez, Felix Carlitos, Hernando Guevarra and Arthur Tan, directors.
Toward noon, John Hannah, US AID administrator, called on the President to pay his respects. The visitor was the President’s guest at luncheon, during which AID-assisted projects here were discussed. Also at the luncheon were local US AID Administrator Thomas Niblock, Ambassador Henry Byroade, Secretary of Education Onofre D. Corpuz, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Chairman Gerardo Sicat of the National Economic Council, Agriculture Undersecretary Arturo Tanco, Jr., Deputy Director-General Apolinario Orosa of the Presidential Economic Staff, Chairman Geronimo Velasco of the National Electrification Commission, Mrs. Estefania Aldaba Lim and Minister Richard Finn.
In the afternoon, the President concentrated on his desk work. He studied reports on the on-going relief work in the typhoon-devastated areas of Quezon province; and acted on urgent matters brought to his desk.
Had lunch with Dr. [John] Hannah, head of the USAID [United States Agency for International Development]. We gave him a briefing on our projects of Family Planning, Rural Electrification and PL 480. He more or less assured us that the amount of $28.5 million would be extended as aid this fiscal year. When I pressed him on when it would come, he estimated that it would be after the session in October. He commented favorably on the technocrats surrounding me and the viable projects that have been incorporated into the four-year program of economic and social development, as compared to the men in government during the time of Magsaysay and Garcia.
We got five minor Huks in Mexico, Pampanga and Task Force Lawin may have surrounded some of those who perpetrated the San Marcelino massacre in Crow Valley air target range of the 13th Air Force Clark Air Force Base, USA.