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October 14, 1972

11:20 PM

Oct. 14, 1972

Saturday

Malacañan Palace

Manila

I have finally decided that in the Land Reform Program we should keep the government out of the transaction for the transfer of ownership of the land to the tenant. It would be a direct transaction between landowner and tenant choosing one of two schemes:

1. Payment in 14 years of 25% of the decided rent. This would be guaranteed by the cooperative that would have to be organized before ownership can be transferred to the tenant.

2. The organization of a corporation 25% of which shall belong to the landowner.

And there will be 0-retention by the landowner –except where the landowner tills the land himself– so he retains 6 hectares for each member of the family.

I attach the notes on our conference.

The use of bonds I rejected as this involves ₱7.5 billion at ₱5,000 per hectare.

Met Amb. Byroade at 9:45 AM who congratulated me. I asked him to inform his government I am asking for help in Land Reform. He feels that he can obtain such help from the U.S. Congress.

But the doctors in Clark Air Force Base have discovered a quarter size whitish spot inside his mouth under his tongue due to his smoking. So he is supposed to stop smoking as the spot is pre-malignant.

Was at Fort Bonifacio 10:30-11:45 PM inspecting the troops beyond the target range in training for attack. NBC took shots of me on the radio and the heliborne troops taking a hill.

Then worked on new schools to be opened, the amendments to the orders on suspension and dismissal of policemen, the take over of IISMI and Elirol, the exclusion of clearance requirements for certain groups of persons.

Tonight I viewed the media presentations of two groups –the APAA and the Tony Cantero groups.

I met Eraño Manalo of the Iglesia ni Cristo. He is worried that he may be picked up. And the BIR just notified him his books of accounts would be examined. Of course I accepted the resignation of Judge Herminio Moreno, married to his sister.

And in the early morning of Saturday, Sept. 22nd, shooting erupted in the Central Building of the Iglesia in Quezon City, beside the U.P. resulting in the death of one Iglesia guard and the wounding of three more while on the government side three marines were wounded. And he claims it was due to the fact that the Metrocom team head who was asked what they wanted by an Iglesia man, Ka Esguerra (a Lt. Ilagan who was apparently nervous) did not show his written orders nor did he explain his mission. Only the call of Sec. Ponce Enrile stopped the shooting.

He claims that the NPA would be trying to win their men to their side. But that they could not join a Godless organization.

I believe he is scared of being picked up.