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Though many of his henchmen resent PACD's immunity to political pressure, President Garcia has always kept hands off it, aware that interference with its operations might well mean the end of U.S. aid for the project.* But with a presidential election coming up next year, Garcia already made it plain that he and his Nacionalista Party will claim all possible credit for PACD's success. Said he last week: "I know PACD is not a political organization, but I'd like to believe the people will show their gratitude." Binamira—whose own political potential looks great to Manila's form makers—is too cagey to dispute Garcia's claims, but he loses no chance to proclaim his opposition to any political interference in PACD. Says he: "Only a thin line separates order from chaos in the rural Philippines. In the hands of a demagogue we'd be lost."
* Two weeks ago, checking into the Philippine Ministry of Agriculture's handling of U.S. aid funds earmarked for free fertilizer for peasants, ICA uncovered instances of improper distribution, entered a prompt—though probably vain —demand for repayment of its $3,400,000.