Former President and current Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday expressed grief over the passing of former President Fidel V. Ramos, who died Sunday.
In a statement, Arroyo cited Ramos’ service to the nation.
“War hero, model soldier, top-caliber diplomat, pillar of later-day Philippine democracy, and a champion of our early moves towards globalization, ‘FVR’ restored our economic competitiveness, having laid out the macro-economic directions for economic progress that the leaders succeeding him improved on,” she said.
Meanwhile, the wake of the country’s 12th President is set to start on Thursday, August 4, and will last until August 8, his family announced yesterday.
Ramos’ grandson, Sam Ramos-Jones, said the wake would be at Heritage Park in Taguig City.
“Our family is truly grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of support and well wishes,” Ramos-Jones said in a statement. “As we grieve, let us also celebrate a rich life—dedicated in service to this nation and its people.”
Ramos “stabilized democracy by saving President Cory (Aquino) from coups,” Arroyo added.
She said Ramos “was a giant among our leaders” and is considered the “father” of the ubiquitous use of cellphones “by deregulating and liberalizing the telecoms industry that are the best policies to ensure the rapid and cost-effective delivery of communications services.”
“Personally, I owe much to FVR. For one, he founded the LAKAS party, which merged with my KAMPI. His was the strongest among the voices that rooted for me when the party’s presidential candidate was being discussed in 2004.”
“And I will forever remember how he threw his full support for me during the failed coups in the later part of my Presidency,” Arroyo added.
“As we grieve the loss of this great man, we must celebrate his life and thank him not only for what he has achieved for the Philippines but most importantly for the example of statesmanship and love of country he held up for Filipinos to emulate,” she said.
“My prayers go to Mrs. Ming Ramos and the Ramos children as I join the Filipino nation in mourning one of the greatest Filipinos of the 20th century. Pray that the sorrow felt by his bereaved family can be assuaged by knowing that he is lovingly remembered by the Filipino people.”