Look at him, Teguina thought. An old man trying to act as if he is in control. Teguina wanted to laugh out loud at the absurdity of the scene. Since the nuclear explosion in the Palawan Strait there had been a panic throughout the islands. Here in Manila rioting had broken out, troops were in the streets trying to restore order, and the presidential palace had been besieged by protests from thousands of citizens and rebel troops — troops, he smiled inwardly, who were loyal to him. No, things were definitely not in control, no matter what this old man wanted to believe, and if Daniel Teguina had anything to do with it, they would continue to spin into chaos.
“What is your report, Daniel?” Mikaso finally said.
Teguina squinted at Mikaso, feeling anger flush into his temples. Mikaso was dressed in a brown suit, with a miniature Philippine Badge of Honor pinned to his lapel. Teguina knew that the sight of that badge on television made many Filipinos proud — it was the highest honor the military could pay to a civilian. Teguina had never even been considered for such an award. “I have nothing to report,” he said lamely.
“You have spent two days in Palawan, with almost no communication with my staff the entire time,” Mikaso said. “Yet I see editorials and articles in the newspaper, condemning the United States and the military for releasing the nuclear weapon and praising the Republic of China’s navy for its relief efforts. I have been told nothing officially — communications are still disrupted in and out of Palawan. Do you have a report for me?”
“I was not aware that I was required to—”
“I have learned that you have ordered New Armed Forces personnel in Puerto Princesa to surrender to the provincial police, and the airfields there and at Buenavista to be shut down,” Mikaso interrupted. “I hear reports that say that Chinese patrol boats were seen in ports throughout Palawan, including Puerto Princesa, Buenavista, Teneguiban, and Araceli, and that Chinese vessels patrol the Cuyo West Pass and even the Mindoro Strait. I hear the screams in the streets outside, saying that you accuse me of being a traitor to our country. Are these reports true?”
“The Philippine Navy is severely crippled, sir,” Teguina replied. “The Chinese patrol boats were graciously loaned to provincial police officers in an effort to restore order to the province—”
“Is the Army assisting the provincial police in restoring order?”
“No, Mr. President,” Teguina sniffed. “According to my research and the reports I received, it was an American B43 bomb that exploded off the coast of Palawan; the experts I consulted said that the weapon was old and thankfully did not produce a full yield.” Teguina knew enough about nuclear bombs to know that it takes a smaller nuclear explosion to trigger the main explosion; this obscure factoid made the lie even easier. “The Chinese vessels were attacked without provocation by a Philippine Air Force F-4 fighter- bomber carrying this American nuclear weapon. The jet fighter crew, who was working for the American Central Intelligence Agency, destroyed a Chinese ship, along with several Philippine ships, during the attack.
“Because I am not sure as yet exactly who is responsible for the unprovoked attack on those Chinese vessels, I thought it best to turn all local police and military functions over to the provincial police and to curtail all military operations until an investigation is completed.”
“General di Silva is in command of the Palawan defense forces?” Mikaso asked. Reregistered surprise for a moment, then relaxed and studied Teguina. “I see,” the aged President finally said. “So. Did you encounter resistance when you decided to occupy the Air Force base with provincial police officers and Chinese troops?”
Teguina’s eyes widened in surprise when Mikaso mentioned using Chinese troops in his operation; then he realized his mistake in registering such a surprise. Mikaso had suspected all along — whether or not he got the information first hand or simply guessed, it was obvious he knew now.
“The traitors put up a brief battle, but, as all cowards will, they turned and ran when confronted by legitimate forces,” Teguina replied. “The Chinese troops supplied transportation to Puerto Princesa, that’s all, and they were forced to protect themselves as well as graciously protecting the provincial police units as well. We thanked God the rebels did not drop another nuclear bomb on us.”
