Ramos tells Duterte, Roxas: Act like global leaders

Former President Fidel V. Ramos said that if Mar Roxas and Rodrigo Duterte want to be President, they should act like one.

The 87-year-old Ramos, whose term ended 17 years ago, said that Roxas and Duterte should realize that they would not only be compared to past Philippine Presidents but they would also be compared with other world leaders on the global stage.

“My advice, simple: Act like a Philippine President who must be competitive nationally because you will be compared with other Philippine Presidents. But this is now the 21st century, and the Philippine President must be world-class. We are not anymore in the period of Antonio Luna, Emilio Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio. Our countrymen should not kill each other, they should unite to develop our nation,” Ramos said.

READ: Roxas: Duterte a friend, but friendship should be based on truth

The presidential candidates should realize that they would serve as a national model when they appear in international meetings such as with the United Nations, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Ramos said in a breakfast forum at Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City.

Ramos also weighed in on the possibility that two front-runners in the tight presidential race would be disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). “Let us give the benefit of the doubt to the people directly concerned. Let the people decide,” he said.

Ramos warned that that the public may be left with only one choice for President if “this process of elimination” would continue, referring to the disqualification cases against Duterte and Sen. Grace Poe.

READ: Poe, Duterte bids in limbo

“We may end up with only one candidate for President if we follow this process of elimination, which is not [how] the people want it,” he said.

Ramos, a former military chief and a health buff, did not find it funny that Roxas and Duterte’s political exchanges would revolve around slapping, fistfights, gunfights and mudslinging.

READ: Duterte shoots back at Roxas: Let’s have a gun duel instead

“Slapping, fighting, killing each other will not solve the problem. The real problem of the world today and the Philippines is fighting poverty, fighting natural calamities, or preparing for them if we cannot fight them; to mitigate climate change,” Ramos said.

Ramos, who was perceived as supporting Duterte, advised the Davao City mayor to watch his mouth. “He should brush his teeth not with Colgate but with toilet paper,” he said.

He said, however, that voters should not look for a perfect President because no candidate would fit the position perfectly.

What was important, Ramos said, was for the elected President to “transform” himself in office to be a better person.

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