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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Ramos rejects calls for people power revolt
MANILA -- Former President Fidel Ramos on Monday turned down calls for another people power-kind of uprising, saying people must first "internalize in their conscience" the spirit of the first and second Edsa revolutions before embarking on another move to unseat President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Speaking to reporters at the launching of the second volume of his book, Sermons, at the Manila Hotel, the erstwhile Chief Executive said any calls for "communal reforms" are futile unless these are met with action and examination of conscience that would benefit the next generation.
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The call for communal action was initiated by the church amid the controversies hounding the Arroyo administration such as allegations of cheating during the presidential elections, extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by the military, and the anomalous national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE deal.
"We must make sure that instead of banking on another people power revolution for the long term, we should be doing so for the younger generation," he said.
"This will just create ripples 10 to 25 years from now. What is important is for us to move forward, upward, not going zigzag," he added
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Ramos was among the leaders of the bloodless Edsa Revolution in 1986 that toppled the 20-year Marcos regime and which catapulted former President Corazon Aquino to power.
Ramos also downplayed the seeming unrest among the people, saying what was happening now was nothing compared to the circumstances leading to the 1986 revolt.
He said in Edsa 1, there were thousands of civilians, nuns, priests and soldiers who offered their lives to God in sacrifice for the country' well-being.
"We are not yet there because of some hard-hearted leaders, but what should ensue out of conscientization and reform are national renewal and transformation. What is happening now is not similar to what happened 25 years ago. (The year) 1986 was much more stressful than this period as this was coming on the heels of a dictatorship. The democracy that we gained from Edsa 1 lasted for 15 years," he said.
Despite Ramos's call for sobriety, he however said the ongoing investigations on the ZTE deal before the Senate, Office of the Ombudsman, and the Department of Justice must continue.
"We must get to the bottom of this (so that the truth will come out). All the evidence must be presented, probable cause must be proven," he said.
Ramos noted that he at one time even submitted to the examination of the Senate blue ribbon committee during its investigation of the alleged anomalous Centennial Exposition.
He said Arroyo's stonewalling in answering the issues hounding her administration may be "forgiven" because she still has immunity from suit. (ECV/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (February 26, 2008 issue)
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