Updated October 26, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Former President Fidel Ramos took a swipe yesterday at presidential wannabes, hinting that he could also consider the challenge of staging a comeback in Malacañang.Ramos was reacting to reporters’ questions about his political plans for next year, apparently taking off from former President Joseph Estrada’s announcement last week of his intention to seek re-election in 2010.
“As far as running for a political office is concerned, including the presidency, I feel I do not have any disqualification against myself, while there are some in regards to others whose names I will not mention anymore,” Ramos told reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal shortly before boarding a flight to China yesterday.
Ramos though added that he would discourage those who are pushing him to run again.
“Huwag na, baka gaya ng sinabi ni Dolphy, baka ako manalo (No, like comedian actor Dolphy once said, I might win),” Ramos quipped.
“But so far you have not actually declined,” one reporter said, to which Ramos replied: “I like to be called retired but not yet tired, ex but not yet excess or now more persuasive because I am ex…ex-rated...or just call me Mr. X.”
Ramos made the statement after discussing what he called political and personal baggage haunting some presidential aspirants.
Without mentioning Estrada, Ramos discussed the legal questions facing the former leader who succeeded him in the presidency in 1998.
Ramos noted Estrada would be facing a legal battle on whether he is qualified to run notwithstanding the constitutional prohibition against former presidents seeking reelection.
He also noted the issues concerning Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. who was accused of irregularities for allegedly making a double insertion in the national budget to finance a road project to benefit his real estate properties in the area.
When pressed on his ideal presidential candidate, Ramos suggested the candidate should be “green minded.”
“Be sure you vote for somebody who wears green, but also thinks green, looking at garbage, environment, climate change, clean air, clean water, education, health, longevity,” Ramos said while showing off his green shirt.
When asked who it should be, Ramos turned the question to reporters: “May napipisil ba kayo? (Do you have someone in mind?)
“To tell you frankly, I am being pressed to run again, even those who wanted to run as vice president visited me, offering themselves to be my running mate,” he said.
According to Ramos, many of the presidential aspirants who visited him include Senators Manuel Roxas II, Loren Legarda; his former Cabinet member Salvador Escudero, the father of presidential aspirant Sen. Francis Escudero.
Ramos also mentioned Sen. Richard Gordon, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and resigned Public Works secretary Hermogenes Ebdane.
Being an elder statesman Ramos said most of them are seeking his advice. “And I give them the advice for free,” he said.
Ramos said Estrada did not make a visit although followers and supporters of the former president made contacts.
Ramos added Sen. Benigno Aquino III had not gone to his office but described the young senator as capable of helping the country out of its problems.
Ramos said the ideal presidential candidate should have the energy and “the fire in the belly” to move the country out its social and economic problems for a whole generation.
When asked if the green shirt is an indication that he is accepting the challenge, Ramos instead hurled potshots at another presidential candidate.
“Except green jokes, only one guy around us knows the green jokes, and I keep hearing them all the time and I think he’s also a presidential candidate,” he said.
Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=517655&publicationSubCategoryId=63
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