Former President Fidel V. Ramos Passes Away at Age 94

The 12th President of the Philippines and former general Fidel Valdez Ramos died at the Makati Medical Center Sunday at age 94, his family announced.

Ramos is known by many through the facets of his life. He was part of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces To Korea (Peftok), comprising 7,420 Filipino soldiers who were the first to answer the United Nations Security Council’s call to defend South Korea from North Korea’s invasion in which Ramos became a hero of the Battle of Hill Eerie, where he was vital to a Filipino victory against the Chinese.

Ramos then went on to secure every military rank in the Philippines, starting from Second Lieutenant to ultimately becoming Commander-in-Chief when he won the presidency in 1992.

Ramos is also part of the infamous Rolex 12, a collective group of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s most trusted advisors, starting as the head of the Philippine Constabulary, then becoming the vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, replacing Gen. Fabian Ver after the latter was implicated in the assassination of former opposition Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. that took place on August 21, 1983.

However, despite being one of Marcos’ most trusted men, Ramos became a hero to the Filipinos once more after he decided to withdraw his support to President Marcos and instead join the planned coup of then-Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile.

Under the administration of former President Corazon Aquino, Ramos served as military chief of staff and secretary of national defense.

Ramos, then won the presidency and became the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998, and is hailed as a leader who pushed the country to a period of stability, economic development, and peace.

He pursued reconciliation with all enemies of the state, envisioned a Philippines in the year 2000 where everyone would have a fair chance at success, breaking monopolies in the process, reignited international confidence in the Philippine economy, and became vital to another peaceful revolution. (GFB)