BY WENDELL VIGILIA and ASHZEL HACHERO
FORMER Cabinet members and senior officials of the Ramos administration yesterday declared their support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo even if their former their former boss, ex-president Fidel V. Ramos (FVR), is seen allied with one of Robredo’s rivals, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
A statement pledging to help Robredo become the next President was signed by the 23 former Ramos administration officials, including former heads of 14 of the departments forming the Cabinet. They include former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Cielito Habito, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto Romulo, former Justice Secretary now Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon, former Finance Undersecretary Milwida Guevarra, and former Health Secretary Carmencita Reodica.
The former officials said Robredo shares many of the leadership qualities and the work ethic that Ramos showed during his presidency.
“We believe that the country sorely needs a leader who will inspire unity, solidarity and teamwork in government and among all Filipinos; empower our people, especially the disadvantaged and marginalized in society; and bring out the best of servant leadership in government officials and public servants by being the foremost example of integrity, dedication, professionalism, level-headedness, statesmanship, pursuit of excellence, hard work, and true caring and sharing for our fellow Filipinos. These are the leadership qualities that we directly witnessed President Ramos espouse and exemplify, and which we seek in the next President of our country,” the statement said.
The former officials said they consider the May elections as a critical crossroads for the country, as the Philippines seeks to recover from the scars inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We believe that Vice President Leni Robredo is the only presidential candidate who possesses the above-described qualities, and who can credibly lead us Filipinos closer towards that dream,” they said.
Robredo said she was “humbled by the support of Cabinet members and senior officials of the Ramos administration.”
“I look up to the leadership that FVR espoused, which I believe was affirmed by the brilliant people who served alongside him – matitino at mahuhusay (good and skilled persons),” she said. “Marami po ang nagsasabi na (Many say that) FVR had one of the best pool of Cabinet secretaries in recent years. Honored by the faith you have placed upon me, sirs and ma’ams. Makakaasa po kayo na lagi kong sisikapin (Rest assured that I’ll always strive) to be worthy of the trust that you and our fellow Filipinos have given me.”
The Ramos administration was responsible for opening up the Philippine economy and paving the way for it to achieve the status of a newly industrialized country under the Philippines 2000 program after decades of mismanagement under the Marcos regime.
However, Ramos is among former presidents supporting the presidential bid Marcos Jr., the late dictator’s son.
The UniTeam Coalition led by Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has brought together Marcos’ Partido Federal with Lakas-CMD of Ramos and former president Gloria Arroyo and the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada.
ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH
Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned that the P328 billion in ill-gotten wealth and unpaid taxes of the Marcos family may no longer be recovered by the government if Marcos Jr.is elected president.
Carpio raised the warning in an online forum organized by the opposition coalition “1Sambayan” where he said the younger Marcos may even abolish the Presidential Commission on Good Government which was established in the aftermath of the 1986 EDSA People Power uprising to look for and recover the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos’ family and their cronies.
“That’s really the problem. If BBM becomes president, I do not expect that the P125 billion will be recovered anymore. He will probably abolish the PCGG,” Carpio said, referring to the amount of alleged Marcos’ assets that the PCGG is still trying to recover for being part of the alleged ill-gotten wealth.
Carpio said the Marcos family also owes the government P203 billion in estate taxes. “He has been ordered by the court to pay and he refused to pay. If he becomes president lalo na goodbye yan.”
The amount includes interest, surcharge and penalties from the initial P23.293 billion in estate tax levied by the Bureau of Internal Revenue in 1991 that the Marcoses have yet to pay.
Carpio said if the amount is not collected within a period of five years, then the government will not be able to collect it due to the prescription period.
SARA-MORENO TANDEM
Duterte-Carpio rejected calls for her to pair up with presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
“I truly appreciate the love of so many for me and while I continue to respect your decision to support another presidential candidate, it is with a heavy heart that I cannot be one with you on this,” the presidential daughter said in a video message.
She also said she has given her word to the alliance of her party, Lakas-CMD, with that of Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
A group of Muslim leaders in Metro Manila led by former Maguindanao congressman Zajid “Dong” Mangungudatu launched a group three days ago pushing for a Moreno-Duterte tandem in the May elections.
Mangudadatu, a a Duterte supporter, said the country would benefit from the tandem considering their skills and experience in government.
He also touted the many benefits received by Muslim residents of Manila under the Moreno compared to the abuses they suffered during the martial law regime under Marcos’ father
The camp of Moreno has yet to issue a response to the group’s call.
Re-electionist Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla said Marcos Jr is going to win in Cavite by a landslide, citing results of an informal survey.
In his Facebook page, Remulla said the internal survey, with 1,600 respondents from Cavite, showed Marcos got 62 percent of the votes, followed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson with 16 percent. Robredo, Moreno, and Sen. Manny Pacquiao got 9 percent, 6 percent, and 4 percent of the votes, respectively
“Surveys are a snapshot in time. If the election was held today? BBM will win in Cavite by a landslide. I believe he will win the presidency in 2022. It’s his time. It’s his destiny,” said Remulla of Marcos.
On Monday, Remulla posted on his Twitter another survey result that showed Robredo leading. The post has been deleted.
The Twitter survey, with 20,684 votes, Robredo got 81 percent of the votes, followed by
Marcos with 11 percent while Lacson and Pacquiao got 7 and 1 percent, respectively. — With Victor Reyes and Gerard Naval
