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Saturday, February 7, 1970

 Office of the President

of the Philippines

Malacañang

Saturday

February 7, 1970

11:00 AM

Met Byroade who says we can pick up the tear gas next Monday. The dye will be forthcoming and he hopes he can divert to the Philippines three helicopters for Vietnam and two for Thailand. He says he has to fight the Vietnan priority.

Tonight I also met with Roger Arienda, one of my most bitter critics who has been leading demonstrations. He was brought by Col. Simeon Medalla. Of course he suggested that he puts up an office to receive complaints and funds to support the office. He now supports me.

Submitted to the National Development Council the priority legislative program as follows:

  1. Price and Rent Control Law
  2. Special funds for:
    1. Land Reform
    2. Peace and Order
    3. Housing
    4. Electoral Reforms
    5. Tax collection improvement

Doy Laurel proposed the inclusion of judicial and penal reforms.

But they opposed the proclamation of all of Luzon as a land reform area allegedly for lack of funds to finance the tenants. We agreed to finance the existing land reform areas first. Otherwise we would lose further credibility.

I had to tell the Senators and Congressmen that the demonstrators and the radicals felt that Congress was hopeless because it was moving along as slowly as usual and not acting as if there was need for immediate change.

Met with my cabinet to inform them that we had to meet the demand for change. So everybody held himself available for replacement. I have prepared a proposed revamp.

But in the Manila Times, Pastalero, former UP Student Council President, follows Barican’s line that I should resign. So it is not constitutional reforms they want but a change of President. This should unmask them.

Manila Times has become impossible. Chino Roces has become a juramentado. He asked the Umali group of farmers to join the demonstration on the 12th so as to get me to resign in three months. He must be a mental case as I always suspected. Manang Pacita says he is trying to prove his manhood elsewhere as he is inadequate at home.

Rudy Tupas and Abe Cruz who saw Imelda claim they will be able to stop him from inside the Manila Times.