Sponsorship Speech of Sen. Loren Legarda: Resolution Expressing the Profound Sympathy and Sincere Condolences of the Senate of the Philippines on the Death of Former President, the Honorable Fidel V. Ramos

SPONSORSHIP SPEECH OF  SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA

RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND SYMPATHY AND SINCERE CONDOLENCES OF THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES ON THE DEATH OF FORMER PRESIDENT, THE HONORABLE FIDEL V. RAMOS

Senate Session Hall

1 August 2022

Mr. President, complete staff work, or CSW, that was the mantra of President Fidel Valdez Ramos.

FVR reinvented politics in the way he conducted extensive consultations with various sectors of the country, advocating for a cohesive culture knowing how divisive Philippine politics can be. He envisioned the Philippines to be a society characterized by equity, tolerance, harmonious pluralism, justice, and full respect for human rights.

Despite being a soldier, the 12^th President of the Philippines veered away from brutal approach in dealing with armed conflicts. Instead, he advocated for formal peace talks with communists and Moro separatists and pushed for the repeal of the anti-subversion law. It was during the Ramos administration that the Government Peace Panel signed major agreements with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), such as[1] 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).

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.

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 any other elected leaders, regardless of political affiliation. He has demonstrated himself to be a leader whose heart is in the right place.

On a personal note, FVR was the first person who encouraged me to run for Senator at 37 years old. I was a young journalist then.

Mr. President, 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.

[1]https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/mapping-peace-constituency-actors-philippines