I have decided to open the channel of communication and negotiation with the Muslim rebels specially the Moro National Liberation Front through my old guerilla soldier, Isidro Saceda, the son of a Lebanese father who has been staying in Jolo since the presidential campaign of 1965 when I used him as an intelligence operative and campaigner in Agusan. He was instrumental in the surrender of Faisal, the first of the rebel leaders to come out of the hills.
He has lived with the father of Nur Misuari in Jolo and was one of the original seven who swore on the Koran to go to the hills to fight the government because of the abuses of Congressman [Indanan] Anni and his group in 1969 and 1970 and 1971.
I called for him last Tuesday, Sept. 3rd, met him Wednesday at Malacañan with Rene
Official Gazette for September 3, 1974: THE PRESIDENT ordered the immediate fielding of all available units of the Manila Transit Corporation to ease the transportation problem in Greater Manila. The Chief Executive took this step after noting that great number of commuters in various areas of Metropolitan Manila lose valuable manhours waiting for transportation. Meeting with Public Secretary David Consunji and Jose Crisanto Jr., MTC president and general manager, the Chief Executive directed the MTC to: 1) see to it all idle bus units in the premises of bus firms be rebuilt and rehabilitated so that they could be fielded as soon as possible. 2) speed up the acquisition of additional buses.
Official Gazette for September 4, 1974: JEEPNEYS will not be automatically banned upon organization of transport cooperatives. Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, chairman of the Committee Transport Cooperatives, issued the statement to allay jeepney drivers’ and operators’ fears of losing their means of livelihood once a transport cooperative is established in their area. One of the objectives of a transport cooperative, Reyes explained, is to enable the members to acquire managerial and operational expertise in preparation for their participation in the envisioned Mass Transit System. This will include the operation of buses, which provide safer and effective service to the riding public and assure better traffic flow.
CENTRAL Bank disclosed that the 35 stock savings and loan associations in the country had topped all banking institutions with a record of 50.20 percent increase in their savings deposits as of June 15 this year. This year’s figure is P32.1 million more than than the P64 million registered in June 30 last year. CB data as of June 15, 1974 showed that the thrift banks had a total of P96.1 million in savings deposits. The thrift banks performance enabled them to occupy the premier position among the banking institutions, capping the first year of the National Savings for Progress campaign spearheaded by the CB.
Official Gazette for September 5, 1974: THE PRESIDENT conferred the Ancient Order of Sikatuna, rank of datu, on outgoing Malaysian Ambassador Datuk Ahmed Zainal Abidin. In presenting the award, the President cited the Malaysian envoy for his services in the field of international relations as a worthy spokesman of his government and people in the Philippines. The Chief Executive said Ambassador Abidin was instrumental in promoting understanding between the two countries through mutually beneficial undertaking. In separate ceremonies at the Malacañang ceremonial hall, the President likewise received the letters of credence of: 1) Ambassador Yaday Prasad Pant, as non-resident ambassador of Nepal to the Philippines and 2) Ambassador Maseo Sawaki, as ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, replacing Ambassador Toshio Urabe.
BOARD of Investments reported that 231 export-oriented firms had registered an unprecedented export earnings of $59.7 million for the fiscal year 1973-74 ending June 30. The export receipts of the BOI-registered firms represented an increase of $41.1 million over that of the preceding year. The increase in exports of these enterprises is due to the export expansion of a variety of products such as garments textile yarns, fabrics, cordage, electric components, fish and seafoods preparations.
Espina (who were both brought by MGen. [Fabian] Ver). He returned to Jolo via Zamboanga Thursday the 5th on the first PAL [Philippine Airlines] flight.
Since there is a theat to SOWESCOM [Southwest Command] headquarters in Zamboanga City by Acob, I instructed him to first meet Acob and stop him from farther offensive operations—if possible to bring him back to Manila to confer with me. Then Saceda goes to Jolo and works to bring the father of Nur Misuari to see me in Manila.
I have directed Gen. Ver to locate Ex. Gov. [Bienvenido] Ibarle of Zamboanga Sur. According to Saceda he is close to the rebel leader Ampatuan who operates with 250 armed men in Karomatan, the town of Mayor Naga Dimaporo. So I intend to obtain the surrender of Ampatuan through Ex. Gov. Ibarle.
The leader of the Basilan rebels is Habib Moshim. Cotabato is led by a certain Ali and his nephews [Disuminuba?] (not the outlaw) and Ignu.
In Jolo it is Nizzam Abubakar, the son of Mayor Barlay Abubakar—not [Biai Lay Lim?] whom they consider a Chinese communist.
Third ranking is a certain Tam whose father is a superintendent or supervisor I reinstated in 1965 or 1966—then the brother of Nur Misuari [Abulkair?] or Kars, then Isnadji Alvarez.
In Tawi-Tawi it is Dais.
I have all the reason to trust Isidro Saceda. He has always been loyal. His information on the Order of Battle of the rebels is accurate. And he is personally attached to me.
I decided to meet directly with Nur Misuari instead of allowing See. Gen. Mohamad Hassan El Tohamy or Pres. Soeharto to intervene as mediators after interrogating Saceda.
He informed me that last August 1973, the four foreign ministers of the Arab countries representing the Islamic Conference namely Saudi Arabia, Libya, Senegal and Somalia, swore on the Koran at the house of Mayor Barley Abubakar to support the rebels.
Thus even Saudi Arabia sent firearms to the rebels. Saceda was emphatic about this.
This “’made the rebels swell-headed,” he (Saccda) commented—and over confident I might add.
So it is confirmed—my suspicious about even Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Omar Al Sakaff were correct. He deceived us. Passing as a friend, he undercut our position. The Foreign Minister’s report to the Islamic Conference was one-sided and falsified the assumptions.
But we cannot yet afford to unmask them.
It is best that we keep our silence and settle the Muslim problem on our own.
Although the position of the Islamic Conference against secession which was initialed by Indonesia helped us bring the rebels to the negotiating table.
Balabagan has been recovered from the rebels. The main landing force was Commander Asuncion’s 2nd Marine Landing Force, the one that took Tuburan, Maimbung, Bud Datu and Bato Puti.
The 33rd IB [Infantry Battalion] and 26th also participated. It was A and B company of the 26th that was originally surrounded in the Lobregat compound.