Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte with Senator Bong Go offer their prayers in front of the urn of Former President Fidel V Ramos. (Photo by RPDEV)
MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday visited the wake of one of his predecessors, former chief executive Fidel V. Ramos, revealing that the late President was the first to push him to seek the presidency in 2016.
Duterte, in a chance interview with reporters after his visit, recalled a meeting he was in when Ramos gave a contribution to his then-presidential campaign.
“Tremendous, I would say. Si FVR (Fidel V. Ramos), if I may divulge now, was the first guy who egged me to run,” he said.
“Pumasok si FVR, may dalang tennis bag tapos nilagay niya sa gitna, ‘iyan lang ang pera ko na maitulong ko sayo [FVR went inside carrying a tennis bag and placed it in the middle, “that’s the only money I can help you with”],’” Duterte recounted.
That was, Duterte said, his fondest memory of the late chief executive.
“He was the first one to push me to run and the first one to contribute money,” he added.
Duterte described Ramos as a “military man” who is “strict” and pushes through with his decisions.
“He was a military man. I could hardly absolve some, ‘yung ano niya, strikto lalo na ‘yung hindi pa siya presidente. But ‘yung nagdecide siya na gano’n, gano’n na ‘yun. One word,” he said.
(He was strict, especially when he was not yet President. But when he decides on something, it’s decided already. He has one word.)
Ramos, who served as the Philippines’ 12th president from 1992 to 1998, died at 94.
He will be accorded a state funeral with full military honors, Malacañang earlier said.
Duterte’s successor, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. have already visited Ramos’ wake on Thursday morning.
Ramos’ wake started on Thursday, Aug. 4, and will last until Aug. 8. He will be interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Aug. 9.
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