LEGARDA HONORS THE LATE PRESIDENT FIDEL V. RAMOS

Senator Loren Legarda has filed Senate Resolution No. 75 on Monday expressing the Senate’s sympathies and condolences on the death of former President Fidel V. Ramos, whom she described as an exemplary leader during his term as the country’s Chief Executive.

“In the face of crisis and challenges, FVR revealed himself to be a nation’s father, an indefatigable and disciplined public servant. He focused on unifying our people after winning the elections in 1992 and steering the economy to become Asia’s rising tiger. He sincerely desired to unify the country by means of peace but waged an all-out war against the ills that afflicted our society and economy,” she stated in her sponsorship speech.

Aside from Ramos’ contributions to paving the way for the Philippines to be recognized as an emerging “tiger economy”, Legarda valued his efforts in bringing peace by encouraging ceasefire talks with communists and Moro separatists. He also pushed for the revocation of the anti-subversion law.

Legarda noted that it was during Ramos’ leadership that the Government Peace Panel signed major agreements with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Among these are the Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

“FVR was a leader accessible and reachable to those who desired to be seated in the highest position in the government, as well as to other elected leaders, regardless of political affiliation. He has demonstrated himself to be a leader whose heart is in the right place,” she said.

Legarda also remarked that it was Ramos who encouraged her to run for senator when she was still a young journalist.

Ramos was a former general and outstanding public servant who served as the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992-1998.

He was saluted as one of the heroes of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. He was also appointed secretary of the Department of National Defense and chief of the Armed Forces by late President Corazon Aquino.

He succumbed to complications from COVID on Sunday at the age of 94.

“FVR’s death is a loss to our nation. We, as a people, owe him much. I owe him much, too. Thank you, Mr. President for your lasting legacy to our nation, and people. Rest in Peace, FVR,” Legarda concluded.(END)