Sept. 29, 1972, Friday, 12:25 pm

Sec. Vicente Abad Santos on the removal of judges: He is against the outright dismissal of civil service employees.

But I have decided to amend the civil service rules so as to add two new categories of punishment without going through a final hearing in addition to dismissal by an investigator. These are removal of those against whom charges are pending in which the evidence of guilt is strong and those that are notoriously undesirable so that it can be taken judicial notice of.

CIR judges have been removed except Judge Veloso and Paredes.

All Public Service Commissioners except Asst. Com. de Guzman also reorganized out.

I have asked Dr. Genaro de Bega to request Judges Wilfrido Angeles of Quezon City, Vivencio Ruiz of Makati, Herminio Mariano of Pasig to resign.

And I have dismissed 200 Customs men and 190 BIR men.

Kokoy reports that the International Press has become favorable.

Increased the allowances of the officers and men of the AFP.

Provided ₱13 million for the equipment of three new PA battalions.

Imelda is working on the commissary for the AFP.

Prices have gone down except sugar which is not available.

Tony Roxas Chua, the principal sugar trader has been arrested with others for price fixing.

Am writing Pres. Nixon on the reasons for Martial Law.

Sept. 28, 1972, Thursday, 12:55 pm

The legitimate use of force on chosen targets is the incontestable secret of the reform movement.

Restrained force will bring about the New Society.

And the Reformation is coming about without any obstacle.

Gerry Roxas wanted to be invited to meet with me. But the Liberal leaders all want to join up now that martial law is a success.

For that matter, everyone now wants to be identified with the Reform Movement.

Freddie Elizalde who has been a critic has come (brought by Adrian Cristobal) to offer a plan of indoctrination of the masses.

But we already have such a plan. And this must be indoctrination by participation -inflexible justice and actual involvement.

The reasons for change can be articulated later.

I have asked Armand Fabella to organize a Think Tank.

Then I will organize a group of men to follow up projects.

Johnny Gatbonton and T.S.J. George of Far East Review interviewed me at 1100-1:20 am.

We do not want another Vietnam nor another mainland China. If the Communists did not succeed in its plot to overthrow the Republic, the economy would have collapsed anyway because of the paralyzation of the government and business.

Received the lists of the Customs and BIR men to be dismissed tomorrow. Prepared the request for the judges to resign.

I am preparing the Educational Reform Act.

October will be the critical month. The Communists and criminals may be able to regroup.

We have to attend to criminality (keep it down) and food prices, repair the roads up to October.

Sep. 27, 1972, Wednesday, 1:30 am Sept. 28th

Met the Bishops Councils Executive Committee of Mons. Gavola, Alberto, Mon Diu and Fr. . They promised to help in the reform program and wanted to publish a resolution.

They confidently gave me information on a Carlos Selles who is supposedly being paid to assassinate me. He is supposed to be a Panamanian like a Negro and has suddenly become affluent as he is opening deposit accounts in different banks.

Gen. Ver has traced his residence in Pasay and we will apprehend him for questioning.

Sec. Abad Santos has prepared a plan to ask the judges to voluntarily resign.

And we will do the same in the Bureau of Customs and the BIR, LTC, CIR and other offices.

I was interviewed by John Nance and Gil Santos of AP.

Traced the study of martial law to the writing of the book “Today’s Revolution -Democracy” and my revolution from the top or the center.

How the present peaceful revolution is a legal exercise of force to attain revolutionary objectives.

The setting and justification of a proclamation of martial law -the awakening to the threat in the Dagojo, Palawan landings, the rise in uncontrolled criminality both petty and syndicated, the paralyzation of government and business in the wake of the bombings, ambushes and the kidnappings -then the review of the captured documents and their reassessment showing that all that was happening had been planned a long time ago although the criminals were taking advantage of the confusion.

And the fundamental requisite of peace and order and reform for a New Society to be created out of the chaos and helplessness that governed everyone.

Joe de Venecia suggests a meeting with Gerry Roxas so that the Liberals may cooperate on the reforms. He suggested I invite Gerry to a conference tomorrow. But this may involve a compromise of our strong no-exception stance.

So I have not accepted the suggestion.

Everybody is saying how swiftly the peaceful revolution was accomplished. John Nance told Imelda “You did not expect it to be so neatly done.”

Will it be said by history that the communist threat was just a legal justification for a legal use of force?

Then let it also be said that it was a constitutional revolution –And that it was necessary to reform society — to convert a “sick society” into the “New Society.”

Sept. 26, 1972, Tuesday, 11:55 pm

The second day without any reported crime and an almost unanimous endorsement of the proclamation of martial law.

Amended Proclamation No. 1081 and Gen. Order No. 2 and issued a statement on the validity of obligations and past contracts.

I attach copies.

Spoke to the separate unit commanders and the major service commanders at the ceremonial hall: The proclamation of martial law is a constitutional exercise of power; it is not a coup d’etat nor military take over, it being a legitimate exercise of power, the government is a constitutional government, the reforms are necessary to win the battle because this battle is not just the battle with guns but the minds and hearts of our people, that reform will counteract subversion which is the bigger battle; that the use of media a legitimate necessity.

Then finished the decree of reform and the abolition of the PSC and removal of GAB chairman Montano.

In the afternoon I gave the first interview to Tillman Durdin of the New York Times and later to the UPI Vic Maliwanag and Pat Killen.

They asked how long it would last –I will keep it only as long as necessary- “To dismantle the communist apparatus” and this includes the reforms I envision.

For a corrupt government cannot long last -or a sick and criminally infected society.

“I hope before the end of my term.”

The Con Con and Congress continue. The power of the President merely augments the deficiencies.

Sep. 25, 1972, Monday, 12:15 pm

Gen. Ver’s men have apprehended Lehman the American triggerman and Manny Crisoligo the explosives and electronics man. But they have not caught Eddie Figueras, Tony Arevalo, Osmeña, Larry Truckman and others involved.

The duo have involved the other men and apparently there was an agreement that the Vice President would have to take over if I were assassinated so as to prevent anarchy.

But we have to check the involvement of the CIA or the U.S. Embassy, Vice Pres. Lopez and other important personalities.

Apparently they have been trying to assassinate me since Baguio (in Camp John Hay) in December 1971, the Rural Bankers Convention in the Pines Hotel, the SSS Convention of Labor in May 1st.

The Comby car that was prepared for the plot is indeed alarming.

I have dismissed some judges and punished some fiscals.

Met all the generals this morning to command them and issue instructions on:

1. The clean-up in Isabela, the Cagayan Valley and Mt. Province.

2. The policy in Mindanao and Sulu -we delay action there until we can concentrate our troops.

3. The Magantoc, Tarlac concentration of NPA’s

4. To prepare for the regrouping of the armed gangs, criminal or not, and the Communists.

4. Employment of the ROTC in civic actions

6. Reward for the Armed Forces.

Met Justices Fred Ruiz Castro and Salvador Esguerra on a consulta.

I told them frankly that I needed their help and counsel because we must keep all the actuations within constitutional limits.

Justice Castro asked permission to ask a blunt question, “Is this a coup d’etat?” and I told him that it is not but it is the exercise of an extraordinary power by the president for a situation anticipated by the constitution.

Justice Esguerra said immediately that he feels that it is a legitimate exercise of martial law.

And apparently reading my mind, he said, in the Merriman case, Justice Tannay had issued a writ of habeas corpus for a man who was detained on orders of President Lincoln. And President Lincoln just disregarded the judicial order. And Justice Tanney said, “what can we do, we are confronted by a superior authority?

I then concluded that there must be no conflict between the two separate departments of Justice and Executive for it would be embarrassing to both.

I believe that they are both of this persuasion.

The public reaction throughout the Philippines is a welcome to martial law because of the smooth, peaceful reestablishment of peace and order and the hope of a reformed society. In fact most everyone now says, this should have been done earlier.

I attach the report of Boni Isip about the same result of a survey conducted by Liberal Party Leader Gerry Roxas.

It is indeed gratifying that everyone now finds or discovers I am some kind of a hero!

There is nothing as successful as success!

Sep. 24, 1972, Sunday, (1:25 am Sept. 25)

Diokno, Chino Roces, Max Soliven etc. have filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus before the Supreme Court.

I asked Justices Claudo Teehangkee, Antonio Barredo, Felix Macasiar and Felix Antonio to see us. They insisted that the government should submit to the Supreme Court for the Court to review the constitutionality of the proclamation of martial law, Proclamation No. 1081.

So I told them in the presence of Secs. Ponce Enrile and Vicente Abad Santos as well as Sol. Gen. Estelito Mendoza that if necessary I would formally declare the establishment of a revolutionary government so that I can formally disregard the actions of the Supreme Court.

They insisted that we retain a color of constitutionality for everything that we do.

But I feel that they are still image-building and do not understand that a new day has dawned. While they claim to be for a reformed society, they are not too motivated but are too bound by technical legalism.

I have amended both Gen. Orders Nos. 1 and 3 to assume all powers of government including legislative and judicial and clearly excluded cases involving the constitutionality of my acts from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

I met the cabinet to emphasize the program to reform our society.

And I signed the decree (No. 1) to promulgate the law on the Reorganization of the Government.

Tomorrow I will sign the decrees promulgating the new Civil Service Rules, the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Law, the Land Reform Funding and dismiss some judges, the CIR judges, Public Service Commission.

We have impressed everybody with our fairness by the arrest of Cong. Roque Ablan, Rafael Aquino and Gov. Luis Bocalan.

I have ordered profiteers to be arrested.

And the ROTC boys have cleaned up the streets of graffiti.

Only KBS and the The Daily Express are operational.

I just talked to Earl Mayo, the biographer and advisor of Nixon, and his first advice is to immediately meet the press as soon as possible and explain that this is not a dictatorship.

Sec. C.P. Romulo, whom I talked to again by long distance, has done a good job of holding press interviews and issuing press releases.

Sept. 23, 1972, Saturday, 12:20 pm

12:20PM

Sept. 23, 1972

Saturday

Malacañan Palace

Manila

 

Things have moved according to plan although out of the total 200 target personalities in the plan only 52 have been arrested, including the three senators, Aquino, Diokno and Mitra and Chino Roces and Teddy Locsin.

At 7:15 PM I finally appeared on a nationwide TV and Radio broadcast to announce the proclamation of martial law, the general orders and instructions.

I place them in Envelope XXXV-C

I was supposed to broadcast at 12:00AM but technical difficulties prevented it.  We had closed all TV stations.  We had to clear KBS which broadcast it live.  VOP and PBS broadcast it by radio nationwide.

The broadcast turned out rather well and Mons. Gaviola as well as the [illegible] friends liked it.  But my most exacting critic, Imelda, found it impressing.  I watched the replay at 9:00 PM.

 

Sept. 23rd (Con’t)

I have amended curfew from 8-6 to 12-4.

Arms bearing outside residence without permit punishable by death.

Kits Tatad read the proclamation, the orders and the instructions after my talk.

Have started checking on Zone Commanders.  Gen. Encarnacion of the IV does not seem to have been systematic.  He still talks of some people like Mayor Cabili criticizing the proclamation of martial law as premature although grudgingly extending cooperation under Gen. Order No. 3 for all offices to continue functioning.

Talk to Imee and Bongbong.  London newspaper had it I arrested the opposition, no mention of communists.

And called up Sec. Romulo and Amb. Romualdez before them.  New York Times at least was sure handed and spoke of martial law after the attempt of assassination of my Secretary of National Defense.

 

Sept. 23rd (Con’t)

Ordered all wire services and embassies to be furnished the speech, proclamation, orders and instructions.

Sept. 22, 1972, Friday, 9:55 p.m.

 

9.50 PM

Sept. 22, 1972

Friday

Malacañan Palace

Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile was ambushed near Wack-Wack at about 8:00 pm tonight. It was a good thing he was riding in his security car as a protective measure. His first car which he usually uses was the one riddled by bullets from a car parked in ambush.

He is now at his DND office.  I have advised him to stay there.

And I have doubled the security of Imelda in the Nayon Pilipino where she is giving dinner to the UPI and AP as well as other wire services.

This makes the martial law proclamation a necessity.

Imelda arrived at 11:35 PM in my Electra bullet proof car to be told that Johnny had been ambushed, it is all over the radio.

Sept. 22nd (Con’t)

Congress is not adjourning tonight as the conference committee on the Tariff and Customs Code could not agree on a common version.  They adjourn tomorrow.

I conferred with Speaker Villareal, Roces, Yñiguez and Barbero who are going to Moscow and they are ready to leave on Sunday.  So they are decided to finish the session same.

Senate President Gil Puyat insists that the next special session be early January.

And they will not be able to pass the urgent bills like the rehabilitation bill.

September 21, 1972, Thursday

1.45 AM Sept. 22nd

Sept. 21, 1972

Thursday

Malacañan Palace

Manila

Delayed by the hurried visit of Joe Aspiras and Meling Barbero who came from the Northern bloc of congressmen and senators who want to know if there is going to be Martial Law  in 48 hours as predicted by Ninoy Aquino.

Of course Imelda and I denied it.

But Johnny Ponce Enrile, Gen. Paz, Gen Nanadiego, Kits Tatad and I with Piciong Tagmani doing the typing finished all the papers, (the proclamation and the orders) today at 8.00PM.

Amb. Byroade came to see me at 11.15 AM and was apparently interested to know whether there would be Martial Law.  He seemed to favor it when I explained it is intended to primarily reform our society and eliminate the communist threat.  But he suggested a proclamation before the American elections may be used by MacGovern, the Democratic Presidetial candidate as proof of the failure of the foreign policy of the present president.

I told him I did not want it said that he was intervening in internal matters of the Philippine government.  And that no decision has been arrived at but that I was under pressure and there

Sept 21st (Con’t)

seemed to be no other solution.  He agreed that there seemed to be no other solution but he told Gen. Romualdez later this day when Kokoy went to see him that his impression was that Martial Law would be proclaimed after the elections.  How he came to arrive at this conclusion I can only guess.  But this man cannot make logical deductions.  I must be wary.

He wanted Kokoy to go ahead and work in California for Nixon.  There are 200,000 Filipino votes and California is crucial.

This morning I told him I was for:

1.  The government adopting the position on party that the title of Americans over private land was final on private parties but not to the government so that Americans could dispose of their property.

2.  On the Sisteneco (?) case, that Americans holding equity in corporations could become directors, executive managers only if the area of investment is highly technical and no qualified Filipinos are available.

3.  On the retail trade of sales of oil in bulk to industrial consumers, amendatory and clarifactory legislation is necessary.

Sept. 21st (Con’t)

There seems to be a pipeline to Ninoy Aquino as he seems to know that the proclamation will be made this weekend.

We have to check this.  It is dangerous. Even the Concon is agog with the speculation.

September 20, 1972

 

 

1040 PM

Sept, 20, 1972

Malacañan Palace

Manila

The two Americans paid to assassinate me were supposed to do the job this morning but when they tried out the guns (even the .22 caliber) they were too loud.  This was explained by our penetration man, Talastas.

They have prepared a Comby wagon, put a hole in the back and have tried to park it between the press and the Maharlika or the boathouse and they can swipe at me at the Pangarap boat landing on the golf course.

I declassified two documents which contain reports of Sen. Aquino to Sec. Ponce Enrile and Gen. Ramos July 27th and 29th, this year which show his propensity as a blubber mouth.

I attach copies of the documents in Envelope No. XXXV-A.  The original reports were in my diary.  Then I wrote Sen A. Roxas to inform him that what I wanted to do in the conference was

 

(2)

 

Sept 20th (Con’t)

not to blame anyone but to break up a “link-up” of the Liberal Party to the Communist Party if any.  I attach this letter in XXXV-A.

I sent a  copy of the letter to all senators because of the expected privelege speech of Aquino copy of which I attach in XXXV-A.

Sen. Perez put my letter on the record.

Sec. Ponce Enrile dared Aquino who had denied his report, to a confrontation which the latter refused.

Sen. Maceda filed a motion to investigate Aquino but he withdrew it when Roxas objected.

I also sent copies of the affidavits of the other witnesses against Aquino to seven senators – Perez, Maceda, Almendras, Pelaez, Tevez, Tolentino, copy in XXXV-A.

 

(3)

 

Sept. 20th (Con’t)

This afternoon General Staff with the SND and the Chiefs of the major services came to see us to submit the Assessment of Public Order wherein they recommend the use of  “other forms of countering subversion/insurgency should be considered.” This means they recommend the use of Emergency Powers including Martial Law, formally.  Envelope No. XXXV-B.

Then we gave an interview where we kept silent on Emergency Powers but spoke of listing Arrival (?) syndicates in the Order of Battle of the communist armed elements, the Self-Reliant Defense Posture as it relates to internal threats, expenditures, additional armaments and personnel etc.

I was surprised to hear Sec. Melchor say he was now in favor of Martial Law although he was against it a year and a half ago.  And all Sec. Abad Santos said was, Let us not talk about it publicly.

I asked Sec. Melchor to submit a study and recommendation in writing and to prepare to use his American contacts to see the U.S. does not oppose us.

 

(4)

 

Sept 20th (Con’t)

Johnny and I again reviewed the proclamation which we again amended.  He wrote out the orders on carrying firearms and on control of shipping.

While we were working on the list of target personalities, Amb. Byroade called to see me on the conversation I had with Robert Wales, President of the American community.  I see him at 11.00 AM.

I could not sign the proclamation and orders because they have to be re-typed.

Imelda is at the house of Imelda Cojuangco celebrating the latter’s birthday.

September 19, 1972, Tuesday

Released the report of Sec. Ponce Enrile of Sept. 8, 1972 where he reported that Sen. Aquino had met with Jose Maria Sison of the Communist Party and had talked about a link-up of the Liberal Party and the Communist Party.

So since I invited Sen. Pres. Puyat, Speaker Villareal I explained to the media which was covering us that when I invited the leaders of the Liberal Party I had wanted a private conference where we could, as Filipinos and for the welfare of our people, agree that neither party (Nacionalista or Liberal) would “link-up” with the Communist Party but their refusal to attend indicated that the Liberals were in on the deal to “link-up” with the Communists through Sen. Aquino.

September 18, 1972, Monday

 

(2)

We finalized the plans for the proclamation of martial law at 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm with the SND, the Chief of Staff, major service commanders, J-2, Gen. Paz, 1st PC Zone Commander, Gen. Diaz and Metrocom commander, Co. Montoya, with Gen. Ver in attendance.

They all agreed the earlier we do it the better because the media is waging a propaganda campaign that distorts and twists the facts.

So after the bombing of the Concon, we agreed on the 21st without any postponement.

We finalized the target personalities, the assignments, and the procedures.

September 17, 1972, Sunday

 

 

We escaped the loneliness of the palace for this old Antillan house now known as Ang Maharlika, the State Guest House several blocks from the palace. It has been restored beautifully by Imelda and is a symbol of Philippine culture in the last century. Almost all our antique valuables have been transferred here.

The departure of our children has made the palace a ghostly unbearable place.

I took a long nap (4:30-7:30 pm) in the room of Bongbong which has the worst bed [illegible] and the lumpiest mattress.

And after an early simple dinner of sardines and pancit, I was able to browse in the library where to my delight I discovered the books I have been wanting to read for some time including Fitzimmons,The Kennedy Doctrine, Sorensen’s The Kennedy Legacy, The Dirty Wars edited by Donald Johnson (some of the principles and lessons are outmoded), Days of Fire by Samuel Katz (The Secret History of the Irguny Zrai Sanmi and The Making of Israel, Chou-en-lai by Kai-Yu, Room 39 by Donald Macfaddan (The room of the British Intelligence in WWII), the History of the World in the 20th Century by Watt, Spencer and Brown.

I have invited the Liberal Party leaders (at least ten of their hierarchy) to come to the palace on Sept. 19th to be informed of what we have on the negotiations and agreements between the Maoists and the Liberals.

The Liberal head, Sen. G. Roxas, issued a demand for us to point out the Liberal negotiating with the Communists, knowing full well that I refer to Sen. Aquino, his opponent for leadership in the party and wanting to disqualify Aquino by his own action.

But the Liberals should not get out that easily.

For some of the other leaders have been dealing with the Communists –Mitra, Yap, Felipe, Dy, Pendatun, Lucman, etc.

Antonio Zumel, news editor of the Bulletin had an explanation of his Trade Asia activities in today’s papers. He adopts an aggressive stance of hurt innocence!

I received the report on the 7,400 case of dynamite apprehended in the del Pan bridge by the OOSAC under Maj. Cruz, son of Maj. Gen. Pelagio Cruz, the ASAC chief. I ordered the dynamite impounded notwithstanding the claim of [illegible] for it.

The Air Manila plane was apparently bombed at 4:40 am yesterday by a grenade in a valise with incendiary bombs over Romblon, prepared to ditch because of the right engine being out of commission from the grenade blast but was able to limp up to Roxas City where it landed at about 5:00 am in the dark with nothing but its landing lights to guide it. Capt. Samonte, the captain of the plane did a good job and was lucky.

I have checked on the plans of the delegations I am sending to the IMF, the UN and other international conferences.

September 16, 1972

 

[Note: the first page of this entry is missing]

 

Sept. 16th (Con’t)

Malacañan Palace

Manila

As I expected the Liberals and the Manila Times have started to make much of Oplan Saggitarius.

So I have openly appealed to the Liberals not to connive with the communists, revealing that Jose Mari Sison and other communists met with Liberals for a common front and consolidation of forces on propaganda, logistics, armed support and prevent the use of emergency powers — giving details.

I am sure this will start another raging controversy.

The reason there is a clamor for martial law is the open threat of the communists to punish the officers including me even after the termination of their office ; the fact that if nothing is done the Communists will take over and the half measures like the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus will not do: and the society has to be reformed.

September 14, 1972, Thursday

 

(1)

11:50 PM

Sept. 14, 1972

Thursday

Malacañan Palace

Manila

After golf, at 9:00 at my room at Pangarap while taking breakfast, I told the SND, C of S, Major Service Commanders (Gen. Ramos, PC, Gen. Zagala, PA, Romando, PAF and Commodore Ruiz, PN) Gen. Ver and Gen. Paranis that I intend to declare martial law to liquidate the communist apparatus, reform our government and society, then have the Concon ratify our acts and the people can confirm it by plebiscite and return to constitutional processes; but that I needed at least one year and two months; that this would be a legitimate exercise of my emergency powers under the constitution as clarified by the Habeas Corpus case by the Supreme Court last January; that we need to cure the ills of our society by radical means (I mentioned corruption, tax evasion, criminality, smuggling, lack of discipline, unequal opportunities) so we must keep our moves clean and submerge self-interest.

I asked for any objection to the plan and there was none except for the observation of Gen. Ramos that the closing of the media should be done by a civilian minister supported by the military, and Gen. Gen. Rancudo who wanted missions definitely assigned to each branch of the service.

 

(2)

Sept. 14th (Con’t)

Malacañan Palace

Manila

Amb. Byroade came to see me after the presentation of credentials by the new Malaysian ambassador.

He left me the Memorandum of Conversation of Marshall Green, Asst Sec of State, East Asian and Pacific Affairs and our Amb. Eduardo Romualdez.

I attach copies of the same.

Then he explained that he kept White House informed weekly of developments here — and that the communist threat was increasing.

We talked of the parity decision, the Lustovaco decision as well as the other developments against the Americans. He claimed that the US senators had indicated a desire to dismantle the sugar quota.

I told him he might start something that would have no end; and that anyway the sugar industry was ready to lose the quota for the national welfare and sell our sugar in the world market.

I suggested that while we in the Philippines were talking of survival, the Americans were talking of property and profits. And we were not thinking in the same plane.

He said he had heard from other persons

 

(3)

Sept. 14th (Con’t)

Malacañan Palace

Manila

that I had said I could not get through to the State Department and I confirmed this.

So he explained his reports direct to the White House.

Met the Japanese Parliamentary delegation decorated with the Datu of the Order of Kalantiao. The Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Quintin Jeremy Goyn.

And finalized the agreements with the governor and mayors of Isabela:

1. Unified Command — Gen. Zapala comes back to run the PA.

2. No evacuation of civilians but civic action

3. Mobile check points with policemen included

4. Training and arming of chosen policemen but Armed Forces was to be always with them.

5. Punishment for treachery shall be immediate.

6. Release of Calamity and Public Works Funds.

September 13, 1972, Wednesday

(1)

11:30 PM

Sept. 13, 1972

Wednesday

Malacañan Palace

Manila

Bongbong’s Birthday. Right now they have converted Suite I into a nightclub complete with strobe lights and blow-up pictures of Bongbong.

And there are more girls than boys. [     ] there are only a handful of boys and about [     ] of girls.

At the rate the tension and hysteria in [Manila] continues, I may have to declare martial [law] soon. Many people are not leaving their houses.

Threats to bomb and blackmail is rampant. KBS and the Daily Express were told to raise ₱200,000 otherwise there would be a bomb for them. This was conveyed by a certain Policarpio, a KBS labor leader. He probably cooked it up.

So I met with Johnny Ponce Enrile, Gen. Tom Diaz, Col. Montoya, Col. Romy Gatan, and Danding Cojuangco this evening at Pangarap and we agreed to set the 21st of this month as the deadline.

In the meantime Sen. Aquino in a privilege speech, today, claims we have an OPLAN Sagitarrius, which allegedly includes placing Greater Manila under PC Control preparatory to proclaiming martial law.

(2)

Sept. 13th (Con’t)

Malacañan Palace

Manila

This is nothing but the contingency plan for the coordination of the local police forces and the Armed Forces in case of insurgency.

It is ridiculous to ascribe it to the plan of martial law since it referts to calling out the troops to quell a disorder.

But of course the media will give it all kind of meaning.

But, again, perhaps it is best that the political opposition start a debate that will get the people used to the idea of emergency powers.

September 12, 1972, Tuesday

 

 

10:55 PM

Sept. 12, 1972

Tuesday

Malacañan Palace

Manila

Hysteria continues because of the bombing, kidnappings.

Finished working with the governors, city mayors and municipal mayors on their requests at 9:10 after starting at 4:00 PM.

Included conference on Cagayan Valley, Mt. Province especially Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Camarines Sur, Zamboanga del Sur with Sec. Ponce Enrile and Gov. Ramos on the im[   ] of communication between Task Force Sar[  ] and Task Force P[    ].

All the mayors of Isabela have promised to cooperate against the subversives and [   ] [   ] openly, but they want arms and more soldiers.

Exercised with light barbells (40 pounds) and showered.

This morning I devoted to the National Security Council meeting from 9:45 AM to 1:00 PM.

I asked a written presentation of the expansion increases in manpower, financial and logistics [     ] plan, training, organization of the communists and [     ]. I asked the question of the [   ] [   ], [   ] [   ] to the communist program of [    ] and terrorism  and urban guerrilla operations for 1972. I attach copy.

September 11, 1972, Monday

 

 

1:40 AM

Sept 11, 1972

Monday

Malacañan Palace

Manila

Birthday celebrations limited to mass and a meeting with the governors and mayors which has turned out to be tedious. I have barely finished with 38 and will have to meet the rest after the Security Council tomorrow.

But it has been an eventful day. The Meralco was bombed in two places last night.

Today the Manila Police battled a jeepload of NPAs, capturing six killing one armed with a carbine five hours after he escaped although another of the escapees armed with a Thompson submachine gun is still being hunted and a Sgt. de Guzman of the Manila Police was killed.

The kidnappers of Tom Aguirre (Banco Filipino) and his son Antonio released them after they paid ₱1.2 million. The kidnappers were well disciplined, had a basement full of communications and had apparently been succesfully kidnapping Chinese for ransom — Tony Roxas Chua’s wife for ₱1 million, La Suerte owners in the same amount, Chen Ba Yek and others.

The NPA’s may have raised their funds in this manner.

So there is hysteria in Manila from a bomb and kidnapping scare.

September 10, 1972, Sunday

12:30 PM

Sept 10, 1972

Sunday

Malacañan Palace

Manila

It is now my birthday. I am 55. And I feel more physically and mentally robust than in the past decade and have acquired valuable experience to boot.

Energy and wisdom —the philosopher’s heaven.

Parade and Review — in the rain. I trooped the line in a raincoat and hat: Felt good.

“The freedom that we pledge ourselves to is a native concept of freedom — not an alien one.”

The history of our people show this.

The Philippines was the land of freedom.

So I come to bear witness to the renewal of your pledge to freedom.

And I am proud to be counted as another soldier who also says — For freedom, Battle to the Death.

September 9, 1972, Saturday

 

 

12:35 PM

Sept. 9, 1972

Saturday

Malacañan Palace

Manila

 

Calamity Workers Golf Tournament–

 

Bongbong arrived early this morning at about 3:40 AM from his date with the Veloso girls (he has been frank with me about what he does on his dates).

We slept with Irene at her room, putting the two beds in her room together, because she cannot sleep in our room.

Then brought Irene to the airport to take the KLM jumbo jet for Amsterdam and London at 5:00. Lucy accompanied her. Alberting and Cobadouga Romulo were in the same plane. Dits Adriano took the plane too, apparently to accompany her.

Sec. Ponce Enrile and I finished the material for any possible proclamation of martial law. 6:00-7:30 PM. Then TV-Radio interview by KBS, Rey Pedrahe and Emil Jurado 8-9:00 PM.