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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-27/macapagal-taking-oath-1961.webp" alt="Diosdado Macapagal takes his oath of office as President in 1961." />
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Diosdado Macapagal takes his oath of office as President of the Philippines in 1961.
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US Secretary of State Dean Rusk at the same time sent his congratulations to Vice-President Emmanuel Pelaez. 


Both Kennedy and Rusk also sent Rizal Day messages to the two Filipino officials.


Meanwhile, also on this day, Secretary of Justice, Jose W. Diokno informed President Macapagal that his Department has filed a case with the (Manila) city fiscal's office against Cosme Garcia, brother of the former President, and six others, president and members of the board of directors of the Continental Oil Corporation, which allegedly engaged in the real estate business against the corporation law which prohibits investment of corporate assets and funds for purposes other than those specified in the articles of incorporation. The six others were 


<ul>
<li>
Martiniano Abad, former director of the National Marketing Corporation,
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<li>
Jorge Vargas,
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<li>
Bartolome San Diego, 
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<li>
Antonio Arambulo, 
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<li>
Gaudencio Mascarenas, and 
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<li>
George M.S. O'Keefe
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</ul>



The corporation was alleged to have acquired a piece of real estate which was to have been sold to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office at a large profit. 


Diokno also announced that all the last day appointees of the former President Garcia who took their oaths of office were deemed to have abandoned their former positions and will not be allowed to assume their new offices.







Reference: 
American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Volume XXXVIII, Number 2, February 1962. 
Photo credit: Official Gazzette of the Philippine President.

January 2, 1962: Kennedy congratulated Macapagal on his election