I was awakened by a telephone call from Imelda now in New York at 7:30 AM. She suggests that Sec. of Commerce [Ernesto] Maceda be sent to the United Nations to work out trade with the leaders of the various states now attending the 25th anniversary of the UN. So I am sending Maceda after the CAB [Civil Aeronautics Board] of which he is chairman resolves the question of the Jumbo or 747 flights. I have suggested that a Jumbo flight be authorized for every 2 1/2 flights of the 707 passenger-wise. This should be acceptable to PAL [Philippine Air Lines] although PAL would probably want it to be pushed back as much as possible.
Played golf with [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto up to 9:00 AM. Indifferent kind of playing but the sun was out and the day clear.
Then met with [Jose] Joe Campos on the prices of medicines and the distribution of drugs.
Mons. [Mariano] Gaviola suggested that I now set aside by executive order the resettlement and agro-industrial complex in Montalban so that the Pope can bless the corner-stone. I have created a committee co-chairmanned by UnderSec. [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.] and Gov. [Conrado] Estrella, with Dir. of Lands, Mons. Gaviola and PHHC [People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation] Manager [Sebastian] Santiago as members to work out the segregation of the areas.
Official Gazette for September 28, 1970: President Marcos had occasion to discuss the problems of Sapang Palay, the resettlement site for urban squatters, when PHHC Manager Sebastian Santiago and Msgr. Mariano Gaviola, who represents the church’s involvement in that project, called at Malacañang.
The PHHC manager also submitted his report on the immediate problems in Sapang Palay, as well as on the improvements and facilities already instituted.
The President was particularly concerned about the lick of water sources in the site, and asked Santiago to request the Comelec to exempt from the 45-day ban imposed during the current campaign for delegate seats in the Constitutional Convention, the public works initiatives needed to provide deep wells in the area.
Apart from these two callers, and a later call made by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Jose Ingles, who took up foreign office matters. The President was free to concentrate on his paper work, which included the report made by a special committee created to study the integrated payment plan for the cost-of-living allowance to public schoolteachers all over the country; and the plans to put up a resettlement site in Montalban, Rizal for uprooted families in the metropolitan area, who lost their homes in the recent floods, complete with arrangements for establishing cooperative farming.
In between receiving callers, the President directed Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Manuel T. Yan to fly to Cotabato to take a close look at the peace and order situation of the province.
The President remained at his desk through the rest of his working day.
Issued the orders to meet the new demands of the Sapang Palay settlers and the threat to strike of the teachers in the four cities who demand a cost of living allowance that would total P40 million when the educational tax can give only P25 million.
I am sending, tomorrow, Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile and Gen. [Eduardo] Garcia to Cotabato to prevent any clash between the followers of the Udtog Matalam and the Sinsuat and Ampatuan clans. I understand the MIM (Moslem Independence Movement) under Matalam has started to use a uniform, are heavily armed and are massing at the boundary of Datu Piang and Dinaig, the latter being the stronghold of the Sinsuats (Datu Odin Sinsuat being the mayor).
Included in my orders is the reinforcement of the two companies in Cotabato with a full strength battalion combat team from the IV PC [Philippine Constabulary] Zone reserves in Fort Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro. All firearms openly displayed by civilians will be confiscated.
I am asking the Sinsuats and the Ampatuans to swear on the Koran that they did not plan or execute the ambuscade of [Salipada] Pendatun. Otherwise they are suspect.
Received the report of Acting Repacom [Reparations Commission] Com. Galang and Immigration Com. Munding [Edmundo] Reyes who has just arrived from the U.S.
Also received the report of Cesar Zalamea on the economic situation of Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Hongkong.
[Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.] has mounted a vigorous propaganda campaign to foist the story on the public that he is going to win his protest. And the Manila Times as well as the Free Press (no less than Quijano de Manila [Nick Joaquin]) have given him space.
I feel that he is just trying to collect as much contributions as he can again.
The President of the Nacionalista Party and the lawyers Attys. Africa and Delfin will answer him in a press conference soon (as well as thru the radio and TV).
I do pity Osmeña—son of a president reduced to impotence and beggary as well as transparent and empty claims.