FVR SEEKS LAKAS UNITY, BACKS GMA

MANILA, OCTOBER 4, 2003  (STAR) Former President Fidel Ramos called yesterday for the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party to unite behind its standard-bearer for the 2004 elections, and endorsed President Arroyo as the party’s official candidate for the presidency.

"It is essential for the ruling party to maintain party solidarity because of the pressing need to continue the country’s momentum toward economic, political and social progress," he said in a statement.

Ramos, the party’s chairman emeritus, said progress can be achieved "in spite of powerful pressures from the opposition representing partisan, vested and elitist interests" if there is "unity, solidarity and teamwork within Lakas."

He pledged to support Mrs. Arroyo’s election bid — though she has not confirmed she will run for the presidency in 2004 — "when she is finally chosen as the party’s standard-bearer, which is only a matter of time."

The selection process for the Lakas vice presidential and senatorial candidates is ongoing and being conducted according to the party’s rules, the former president added.

Ramos issued his call for the ruling party to close ranks during a press conference where he also announced his scheduled departure on Monday for Hong Kong and the United States to fulfill long-standing speaking obligations.

In Hong Kong, he will be part of a panel of experts, chaired by former US President George Bush, which will analyze the prospects for economic recovery, enhanced security and sustainable development in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Bush and Ramos currently serve as members of the Asian board of advisers of the Carlyle Group, an internationally recognized investment company based in Washington, DC.

In the US, Ramos will hold a lecture at the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research on "the future of American military presence in Asia" before a select group of diplomats, academics, strategy experts and top officials.

He said he wanted to join Lakas officials in a directorate meeting set on Oct. 7 but could not cancel his commitments abroad, which had been arranged long before the meeting was scheduled.

Ramos also called on both chambers of Congress to complete as soon as possible the "second wave" of economic and political reforms that he said will remove remaining barriers to the steady flow of investments that can generate badly needed jobs and livelihood opportunities, and facilitate national decision-making in the highly competitive world of the 21st century.

"Admittedly, while many serious problems beset the country today, we had undergone worse crises in the past and prevailed over them because of the strength of our country’s economic fundamentals — foremost among these being our skilled, adaptable and highly literate workforce," he said.

Ramos stressed that for Filipinos to rise above the country’s current problems, they must cultivate and assert the value of unity, solidarity and teamwork.

"Filipinos must think of themselves as one solid ‘Philippine Team’ competing peaceably and winningly within the Asia-Pacific region and in the global community, instead of behaving like crabs in a basket," he said.

"We can forge a better future for the Filipino nation through strong teamwork and good governance, and Lakas should take the lead to make this happen," Ramos said.