MALACAÑAN PALACE
Manila
11:05 PM
March 5, 1970
Thursday
Gen. Espino has come to show me a report that 25 Kabataang Makabayan leaders including Nilo Tayag, Crispin Aranda and Navarro met at No. 28 Libis Nadurata, Caloocan City behind the Iglesia Ni Cristo to plan the kidnapping of Bongbong anytime from March 15th to closing of school at the La Salle Greenhills area. Informant was in the meeting SI is of the KM-KPK (Kilusang Progresibong Kabataan under Brondon Cordero). This is the second plot in 1970.
This is disturbing as the informant was present in the meeting. We are getting a confirmation and at the same time doubling Bongbong’s security. Tomorrow he is swimming at St. Martin’s and Imelda will inaugurate the swimming pool.
Settled the Philippine National Railway demands as well as the DBP.
Paco Reyes came to confirm that Manda Elizalde is just honor-grabbing in Tondo.
Imelda had about 1,000 ladies in the Maharlika Hall to talk about Project Tulongan for Tondo. Father Blanco was one of the lecturers.
I have appointed Leo Virata as chairman of the DBP. Maceda will take his place in the Dept. of Commerce and Industry. I will also use Leo to negotiate more loans abroad.
If we can conditionally ratify the Phil-Japan Trade and Navigation Agreement we may be able to obtain a 200 million dollar loan from Japan. We should press our claim for the coconut excise tax collected by the U.S. during the Commonwealth and after the war to be used for the support of the Philippines in the amount of $250 million and settle for a loan instead.
With this development on Bongbong I may have to hasten the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
But only if they persist upon the path of violence they have started.
The danger that now confronts the matin must be eradicated for all time. Communism must be rooted out.