FVR, statesman
Fidel Ramos, president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998,
is a consummate statesman.
The first problems he successfully grappled with were peace
and order particularly in Mindanao, the rebel soldiers, and the CCP-NPA.
He immediately issued a sweeping amnesty for all of them. Of
course, many violated the conditions of the amnesty, except the soldiers like
then Col. Gringo Honasan.
But by and large, he was able to dedicate his presidency to
the more important problems of his country, notably the economy.
It was during the Ramos years that the country began enjoying
the benefits of a property boom.
It was not his fault that the boom became a bust when the
Asian contagion started in 1997 and eventually hit the Philippines. The other
victims of the bust have recovered. We have not.
As president, Ramos was more of a civil engineer than a
soldier. At one time, he discussed with me in Valencia, Negros Oriental how many
tons of cement and reinforcing bars went into what bridge.
FVR as a civilian
Probably learning the lessons from his cousin, Ferdinand
Marcos, he devised new ways to deal with protesters.
Instead of using night sticks, guns and water cannons, he
would walk to the demonstrators and talk to them about their problems. He
listened intently although he knew that many of the demands were unreasonable
and therefore could not be granted.
The positive effect was showing his people his untiring
capability to listen. Being a four-star general, with a military education from
West Point, I had expected him to behave like a soldier in his presidency.
He never for one moment did. There was this incident in New
Zealand where a small group of protesters were shouting invectives at him.
Instead of ignoring them, he got off his car and talked to them.
The crowd dispersed by itself. The protesters went home, not
all looking happy and satisfied but at least they had the comfort of meeting a
president who listened.
GMA’s ways are different
I will not hazard a guess that Ramos hates himself or is at
least sorry for helping Gloria Macapagal Arroyo topple Joseph Estrada from
office in January 2001. What I am sure of is he is not happy with the situation.
He probably did not know enough of what Gloria Arroyo could do as president.
President Arroyo hardly allows dissent. And this is what
brings about more of it.
Ramos tolerated it and got less and less of it.
Freedom of expression and the right to air grievances is
something that Ramos has not forgotten up to this day. He has always known that
this right is held sacred in the Constitution.
On the other hand, Gloria Arroyo hardly believes or respects
freedom. For why did she issue Proclamation No. 1017 and allowed "calibrated
pre-emptive response." The CPR gives the police the authority to use brute
force.
Thank God, we have a Supreme Court which performs the only
duty of upholding the Constitution. It junked all of the anti-freedom orders of
President Arroyo.
Legal advice
We must have all noticed that many of the orders of President
Arroyo have been junked by the Supreme Court.
These shameful events did not happen when Avelino J. Cruz Jr.
was her chief legal adviser. Not that Cruz is the most brilliant of lawyers.
It’s because the Mrs. Arroyo listened to him.
After Cruz left, nearly all of the orders of President Arroyo
that impacted on the Constitution were junked by the Supreme Court.
I cannot remember whether some of the orders Ramos issued
were ever questioned in Court. Very few, I guess, if there were any.
My opinion is that this again shows that Ramos listens to
advice on subjects he is not familiar with, particularly the law.
I cannot recall who was the chief legal counsel of President
Ramos. But he had a good mind that earned FVR’s ears.
Another way of saying it is that FVR always lend his ears to
good advice. That is one of the reasons his time was devoted mostly to what his
sworn duty: To uphold the Constitution and develop the economy.
He succeeded in both.
Eerily quiet
FVR had been eerily quiet from the time he – again – tried
and succeeded in helping Gloria Arroyo stay in office. Until her term expires in
2010, hopefully.
But when he did open his mouth this week, his words were
directed to the members of the First Family. He explained that he is dismayed by
political dynasties because it is wrong to believe that political leadership can
be transferred from member to member of a family.
This is the first stinging rebuke Ramos hurled against
President Arroyo. He singled out the Macapagal-Arroyo family although there are
other families which have maintained dynasties in politics.
This has a very deep meaning which I cannot fully fathom. I
might say that FVR sent Malacañang a signal on what he might do next.
Again, I will never second-guess what that might be.
What I have noticed is that Ramos stays away from politics.
If he is involved at all, very few people know about it.
That should worry Malacanang.
AFP absentee voting
Absentee voting specially among soldiers and public school
teachers is allowed. They cannot be denied their right of suffrage simply
because they are not in the precinct where they are registered.
But neither soldier nor teacher can be forced to fill out a
form on absentee voting.
Soldiers are being required to do just that.
I heard from a retired general that those who refused are
warned that they will be dishonorably dismissed.
So all of the soldiers filled out the forms. These were
submitted to the Commission on Elections.
If asked if the Comelec has the duty to divulge how many
soldiers signed the form. My feeling is they have already voted.
Otherwise, they will not be threatened with summary
dismissal. Proof? I have none. These kinds of anomalies are not documented. The
orders are simply transmitted from the top by mouth.
The soldiers will not testify. They are scared of what can happen to them.
