Tuesday, February 26, 2008 FVR for reform, but not ouster By Ben O. Tesiorna
FORMER president Fidel V. Ramos is for reform but not for a change in leadership. This was what people deduced from Ramos' statement during his visit here in Davao City last week.
In a press conference held at the Lanang Golf and Country Club Saturday, Ramos said while his ardent wish is for reforms to happen in the Arroyo administration he does not want a new leader to replace President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo until 2010.
He likened the country to a sailing ship that's full of holes and is on the brink of sinking.
"Plug the holes that they see or pull an oar but let us not put a new horse on the ship which is already leaking and not moving as fast," Ramos said.
He said what must be done instead is for everyone to just contribute and help save the sinking ship.
"We are all onboard the ship of the Republic of the Philippines. If that ship sinks, we all sink together," said Ramos.
The retired general said Filipinos must consider the recent crisis facing the country as a minute incident in the country's history and future and therefore must not be given much attention as it is receiving now.
"The Arroyo administration is just a bit in the present generation, so there is no reason to make this crisis now the only crisis for all Filipinos because it's not. What is happening in the political level should not be the be-all and end-all of all government efforts as well as efforts of the media," Ramos said who will be celebrating his 80th birthday next month.
He said the investigation on the controversial ZTE broadband deal must keep on if only to ferret out the truth on the issue. Ramos said he personally believes that the whole truth has not yet been divulged by the personalities involved in the $330 million deal between the Philippine government and the Communist Republic of China that was shelved because of accusations of anomaly.
Asked if he is fed up with the Arroyo administration that has constantly been dragged in anomalous transactions and cheating, Ramos said he is not angry at anybody right now.
"What angers me is kapag palagi ko na lang inuulit yung mga advice ko and yet nothing happens," he said.
He admitted that he had long been giving his 'message' to the Arroyo administration since few years back when former president Corazon Aquino and ten cabinet officials of Arroyo withdrew their support from her and yet not much reform happened.
Ramos said ousted president Joseph Ejercito Estrada never listened to his advice before.
"Kaya tingnan niyo, naalis sa pwesto," he said.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte meantime supported Ramos' call for the continued investigation on the ZTE controversy.
