FORMER President Fidel Ramos yesterday fired another salvo at President Arroyo, saying it is not fair for the Chief Executive to run for a congressional seat in Pampanga while staying in Malacañang armed with all her executive powers.

Ramos made the statement prior to his departure to co-chair a forum of global emerging markets in Mumbai, India.

He said without even considering ethics or morality, Arroyo would clearly have an undue advantage against her opponents in the second district of Pampanga if ever she runs for the post while staying on as president.

"Where is the fairness of all of that where you are commander of the police and the military and Chief Executive controlling the budget and as head of state, and head of government?" he said.

Last week, Ramos asked Arroyo to reveal her political plans and told the House of Representatives to stop "titillating" the nation with its plan to change the Constitution via a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass).

The opposition is suspicious that Arroyo is angling to become prime minister if Congress succeeds in changing the system of government from presidential to parliamentary via the Con-Ass.

Ramos said in Bangladesh, the head of government, the prime minister, and Cabinet members have to resign 90 days before a general or parliamentary election. He said a caretaker government, usually headed by a retired Chief Justice, takes over.

He said the system has resulted in the prosecution of some previous Cabinet members and relatives of the former prime minister, because they were no longer in a position to apply their clout to defend themselves.

Ramos said while a sitting president should keep her political plans to herself, it is her responsibility as chief executive, Armed Forces commander, and chairman of the ruling party to disclose her plans "once the cat is out of the bag."

"Because it is not just her, neither just her family, neither just her party that are involved, it’s the nation as a whole, it’s 91 million Filipinos that have to understand what this is all about," he said

Ramos criticized the Arroyo government for the political division in the country and the economy’s remaining a laggard compared to its neighbors.

"How can we provide such a momentum for our future if the president herself or himself, whoever that president may be, continues to be controversial?" he asked.

He said there is still time for Arroyo to stop the fighting in Mindanao and make the Philippines come out of the near bottom ranking in the Transparency International’s (TI) index on corruption.

He said the Philippines is at number 91 in the TI ranking, below the median when it used to occupy the upper half. He said the country’s credit ratings have also gone down.

"If she can transform herself and the nation and there is still time for it, then she might leave an acceptable legacy for successor generations and leaders," he added.

Solidarity Philippines convenor Fr. Joe Dizon urged Filipinos to denounce the plans of the Arroyo government to extend its stay beyond 2010, whether Arroyo is vocal about it or not. He said Arroyo’s continued silence only adds fuel to the fire as it is now publicly perceived as being "more alarming."

Dizon also urged the public to join the protest Tuesday next week in Manila against Charter Change. The rally will start at the Welcome Rotunda in the boundary of Quezon City and Manila.

Rep. Edcel Lagman (Lakas-Kampi CMD, Albay) said talks on Arroyo’s political plans are saving her from turning into a lameduck.

Lagman said the apprehensions raised by critics, especially the opposition, give Arroyo more political influence.

Rep. Joel Villanueva (PL, Cibac), however, said Arroyo "was only trying not to be a lameduck president by projecting that she is running for Congress and would still cling to power through whichever way."

In Malacañang, Arroyo’s spokesmen followed her tack to keep mum on her alleged political plans after her term ends in 2010.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said they no longer want to talk about politics because Arroyo’s plans are "private."

"We are not talking about it because in the first place we don’t know anything about it, what’s in the mind of the President. We never talked about it, I cannot tell you anything at all," Ermita, also presidential spokesman, said.

Arroyo in an interview during her visit to Japan last week preferred to keep private her future plans, including what she intends to do in 2010.

Ermita also refused to comment on Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz’ call for Arroyo to level with the public about her plans.