PROF.PASION (PHILIPPINES)
09-08-2007, 03:52 AM
Political Has-Been
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
03/21/2006
Fidel V. Ramos has been trying hard to erase his image as a destroyer of Philippine democracy, a negative image he earned in 2001 when he and his anointed, Gloria Arroyo, encouraged the military to stage a coup dĄŻetat against the constitutional government of Joseph Estrada, rejecting the constitutional process of removal or retention of a President charged with impeachment by the House of Representatives.
Ramos certainly knows that his image as a "savior" of democracy has been totally destroyed by that act of treason against the Constitution.
Earlier, flushed with success at having deposed then sitting President Joseph Estrada through a coup d'etat, he and his retired generals were so proud to have kicked Estrada out of Malacańang that they admitted to the media that they were at the heart of the coup dĄŻetat and pressed for charging Estrada with plunder, through his sidekick in the Ombudsman's office, Aniano Desierto.
Ramos after all, in those first few weeks, rebuilt his image as a strong force that carried a lot of military and political clout. He wasnĄŻt an old soldier who would simply fade away. He wanted to be acclaimed again, as a hero of democracy.
This was the perception Gloria and her elite tried to project: They did what they did in defense of democracy. But something went wrong: The international media, along with the Filipino masses, saw the Edsa II revolt for what it really was: a power grab that moreover weakened democracy in the country.
With his image as a "savior of democracy" destroyed in the domestic and international community, Ramos took every opportunity to cultivate an image of being an adherent of democracy. In 2003, for instance, he called on the renegade military, dubbed as the Magdalo group, to stand down and face the music. Then in July 2005, when senior officials of Gloria Arroyo resigned en masse and called for Gloria's resignation, which nearly caused the collapse of her government, there came Ramos, acting as the white knight to Gloria, saving her and her government from collapse but with a deal struck: an early exit for her through a constitutional change which would usher in a parliamentary form of government.
Ramos thought that by sticking with her and pushing change through "constitutional means" his negative image as a destroyer of democracy would now be replaced with the old one, savior of democracy.
Unfortunately for him, this didnĄŻt work. He was in fact seen by many as having propped up an unpopular and illegitimate presidency.
Even as he continued to push his old image, by way of junking coups d'etat and admonishing the restive military while claiming to have been a coup destroyer, his claims were negated by facts that showed him to have turned his back on the Constitution and participated in at least three coups dĄŻetat, making him a certified wrecker of democracy.
This time around, Ramos had the gumption to issue a call to Gringo Honasan to surrender and face the music in court even when he knows that there can be no justice in this country under Gloria.
Ironically, Ramos in 1986, was being hunted down by Marcos, which was the only reason he decided, at the 13th hour to join Johnny Ponce-Enrile and the then military rebels. The talk then was that Ramos had come in with a packed suitcase, having made arrangements with the US Embassy people to fly him out of the country in the event the revolt would fail. WasnĄŻt Ramos then also a fugitive from justice, evading arrest and holing himself up in Camp Crame not to forget under this screwed- up system where rebellion is a continuing crime and can in fact be arrested for the crime of rebellion? So what is the difference between him and Gringo Honasan?
He says Gringo is no longer the same Gringo of 1986, no longer having any clout in the military.
Ramos should look at himself in the mirror. Neither does he have any clout in the military nor in the political sphere. Heck, even in international circles, he carries no clout, although he loves to project himself as having a lot of clout and he continues to project himself as one who adheres to the Constitution, defends democracy and upholds the rule of law.
Truth is, Ramos is washed out, both as a political leader and even a claimed elder statesman.
Even that statesman image was destroyed in 2001, when he, pointing a finger at then sitting President Estrada, told him to shape up and do as he tells him to do, or else
Well hell, no former president has a right to tell a sitting and legitimate president how to run the country. Ramos had his time and screwed up the country.
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
03/21/2006
Fidel V. Ramos has been trying hard to erase his image as a destroyer of Philippine democracy, a negative image he earned in 2001 when he and his anointed, Gloria Arroyo, encouraged the military to stage a coup dĄŻetat against the constitutional government of Joseph Estrada, rejecting the constitutional process of removal or retention of a President charged with impeachment by the House of Representatives.
Ramos certainly knows that his image as a "savior" of democracy has been totally destroyed by that act of treason against the Constitution.
Earlier, flushed with success at having deposed then sitting President Joseph Estrada through a coup d'etat, he and his retired generals were so proud to have kicked Estrada out of Malacańang that they admitted to the media that they were at the heart of the coup dĄŻetat and pressed for charging Estrada with plunder, through his sidekick in the Ombudsman's office, Aniano Desierto.
Ramos after all, in those first few weeks, rebuilt his image as a strong force that carried a lot of military and political clout. He wasnĄŻt an old soldier who would simply fade away. He wanted to be acclaimed again, as a hero of democracy.
This was the perception Gloria and her elite tried to project: They did what they did in defense of democracy. But something went wrong: The international media, along with the Filipino masses, saw the Edsa II revolt for what it really was: a power grab that moreover weakened democracy in the country.
With his image as a "savior of democracy" destroyed in the domestic and international community, Ramos took every opportunity to cultivate an image of being an adherent of democracy. In 2003, for instance, he called on the renegade military, dubbed as the Magdalo group, to stand down and face the music. Then in July 2005, when senior officials of Gloria Arroyo resigned en masse and called for Gloria's resignation, which nearly caused the collapse of her government, there came Ramos, acting as the white knight to Gloria, saving her and her government from collapse but with a deal struck: an early exit for her through a constitutional change which would usher in a parliamentary form of government.
Ramos thought that by sticking with her and pushing change through "constitutional means" his negative image as a destroyer of democracy would now be replaced with the old one, savior of democracy.
Unfortunately for him, this didnĄŻt work. He was in fact seen by many as having propped up an unpopular and illegitimate presidency.
Even as he continued to push his old image, by way of junking coups d'etat and admonishing the restive military while claiming to have been a coup destroyer, his claims were negated by facts that showed him to have turned his back on the Constitution and participated in at least three coups dĄŻetat, making him a certified wrecker of democracy.
This time around, Ramos had the gumption to issue a call to Gringo Honasan to surrender and face the music in court even when he knows that there can be no justice in this country under Gloria.
Ironically, Ramos in 1986, was being hunted down by Marcos, which was the only reason he decided, at the 13th hour to join Johnny Ponce-Enrile and the then military rebels. The talk then was that Ramos had come in with a packed suitcase, having made arrangements with the US Embassy people to fly him out of the country in the event the revolt would fail. WasnĄŻt Ramos then also a fugitive from justice, evading arrest and holing himself up in Camp Crame not to forget under this screwed- up system where rebellion is a continuing crime and can in fact be arrested for the crime of rebellion? So what is the difference between him and Gringo Honasan?
He says Gringo is no longer the same Gringo of 1986, no longer having any clout in the military.
Ramos should look at himself in the mirror. Neither does he have any clout in the military nor in the political sphere. Heck, even in international circles, he carries no clout, although he loves to project himself as having a lot of clout and he continues to project himself as one who adheres to the Constitution, defends democracy and upholds the rule of law.
Truth is, Ramos is washed out, both as a political leader and even a claimed elder statesman.
Even that statesman image was destroyed in 2001, when he, pointing a finger at then sitting President Estrada, told him to shape up and do as he tells him to do, or else
Well hell, no former president has a right to tell a sitting and legitimate president how to run the country. Ramos had his time and screwed up the country.