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February 28, 1970 Saturday

Office of the President

of the Philippines

Malacañang

February 28, 1970

Saturday

10:55 PM

Am working on a Primer on Communism. Everyone is talking of confrontations with student power. Actually the whole crisis has been utilized by communism to create a revolutionary situation.

Ernesto Granada, columnist of the Manila Chronicle has become libelous. He writes what Iñing Lopez tells him to. Today he blames me for the riots and for paying toughies to infiltrate the demonstrations and to destroy private property and thus raise the ire of the people against the demonstrators. We must watch out on the Lopez side. Mother has written me that one of the friends of Iñing Lopez has revealed to her that Iñing Lopez has paid some people to kill me. I can believe this.

My barber, Conrad, tells me that the overwhelming opinion outside Malacañang is that it is about time I took sterner measures against the demonstrators that are violent.

The Armed Forces had a critique of the exercises for the Contingency Plan. Defects being ironed out.

We must finalize the list to be arrested if there is massive sabotage or assassination. I assess the plans of the communists to include these activities by the middle of March.

Johnny Ponce Enrile reports demoralization among the HMBs specially the Ma-Maos who are ready to surrender but would like to make it appear like a capture.

There is restlessness in the transportation sector as the bus operators are losing ₱.30 for each peso gross they earn.

We will have to allow an increase in rates as the tire suppliers have increased prices by 17% and the oil people are meeting next Wednesday to increase theirs. I was able to hold the rates down in 1966. Today we will not be able to do this because of the floating rate.

The Congress is moving as slowly as ever on urgent legislation like the price and rent control law.

I have asked Bing Tanco to come and help me on the agricultural program. I hope to put him in as Undersecretary of Agriculture if I can convince Nanding.

I have just appointed Gen. Estrada as Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

The cement shelter in the ground floor (my gymnasium) has just been finished. It is against any possible mortar or grenade attack.

And I have been trying out my bullet proof vest as I was going to Bohol but had to cancel it as the East Visayan Athletic Meet is set for the afternoon and I have some appointments here in Manila. The vest is a little lumpy under my newly tailored barong and shirt. It weighs 13 pounds and protects from the most penetrating rifle fire.

Attachments

Unnumbered/Undated Executive Order

Memorandum to the Chairman, Presidential Steel Committee