President Duterte repeatedly thanked Fidel Ramos’during his speeches at the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Now it can be told: FVR pushed Duterte to run





Former President Fidel Ramos. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ ROGER TINGLE

FORMER President Fidel Ramos has turned out to be a driving force behind the candidacy of Rodrigo Duterte for the presidency.

Mr. Duterte repeatedly mentioned Ramos’ role in convincing him to run during his speeches before the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday


According to him, Ramos was the first person to fly to Davao City to ask him to run for president.

They met for about three hours at the Marco Polo Hotel, and Ramos told him: “It is time that Mindanao will have a president.”

“And despite my own misgivings about money, machinery and everything, I prevailed because of his inspiration. Thank you, Mr. President,” he said.

Mr. Duterte also said he was taking his cue from Ramos in his anticrime drive.

He said he has his orders from the former president, which was to “do what is good for the country.”

“And he is the No. 1 policeman thereabout now,” he said.

He later joked that since he was following the orders of Ramos, the police should blame the former president, not him.

In Mr. Duterte’s inaugural address on June 30, Ramos was also the first one he mentioned.

“President Fidel Ramos, sir, thank you for your help in making me president,” he said, in the first sentence of his speech.

READ: Duterte tells FVR: Thank you for making me President

During the campaign, Ramos had posed for a picture with Duterte where he raised the then Davao City mayor’s hand.

But it was not clear then if Ramos formally endorsed Duterte for the presidency.

Ramos had also met with presidential candidate Grace Poe and posed for a picture with her while giving his signature thumbs up pose.

Poe sought his advice on various issues during the meeting, but did not get his endorsement. TVJ

Former President Fidel V. Ramos

and Joseph Estrada join President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the inaugural ceremony held at the Rizal Hall of Malacañan Palace. Beside are Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. RTVM PHOTO

Newly sworn-in President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday thanked former President Fidel V. Ramos for his support in making him President.

“President Fidel Ramos, Sir, salamat po sa tulong mo making me President,” Duterte said at the start of his inaugural speech at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang Palace.

Duterte did not elaborate on his statement.


Before filing his candidacy last December through substitution, Duterte and Ramos met in Manila regarding the former’s plan to run for president.

Ramos reportedly advised Duterte on how to handle a presidential campaign and how to conduct himself in public amid the expected barrage of criticisms.

Ramos also was said to have given Duterte some tips on how to run the Philippines amid the problems hounding the country.

Last March, Duterte and Ramos met again in Makati City where the latter raised the hand of the incoming President.

During the inauguration on Thursday, Ramos was seen inside Rizal Hall seated beside former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada. He was later joined by Duterte when he arrived inside the hall. RAM/rga