Ramos, Enrile ‘meet’ again at site of 1986 Edsa Revolution after 28 years
Then Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos and then Defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile (left) enjoy the cheers from the crowd at Edsa when informed that people power has prevailed. JOHNNY VILLENA FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — It’s just like old times for these two Edsa veterans.
Former President Fidel Ramos on Sunday visited Senator Juan Ponce Enrile at the Philippine National Police General Hospital, a sudden reunion for two major personalities of the 1986 People Power revolution.
Ramos, sprightly and still able to hoist himself up to sit on the car window at 86 years old, turned sentimental at the thought of being inside Camp Crame once more with the 90-year-old senator.
“My purpose was to pay my respects since this particular area was the scene of our work together, which was very successful during the 1986 People Power Revolution. The main event was here in Crame,” he told reporters as he sat on the window of his Toyota Landcruiser after his hour-long visit.
As he performed his mini-gymnastics inside his vehicle, he quipped that it was how he conducted his campaigns on the road in the past.
“Don’t vote for me! This is how we used to campaign then,” he chuckled.
During Edsa, Ramos was then the Armed Forces vice chief of staff of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos while Enrile was the defense minister.
At the height of the bloodless revolution, the two personalities holed up in Camp Crame after withdrawing support from Marcos as millions gathered on Edsa to call for Marcos’ ouster.
Enrile has been staying at the PNP General Hospital following his surrender on Friday on the account of the plunder and graft charges lodged against him for the pork barrel scam.
“We have not seen everything yet at this point and it should be up to the courts,” Ramos said when asked if he was convinced of the senator’s innocence.
He added Enrile appeared to be in “good spirits” despite his hypertension and eye ailments, which might lead to blindness.
“We talked about as I said his health which is under very good medical monitoring by the medical service of the PNP,” the former President said.
Asked about Enrile’s morale, Ramos said his old friend was “not particularly joyous about it,” adding that the airconditioned hospital room could only accommodate two visitors.
Ramos gave Enrile his UP Vanguard black jacket since they were both UP alumni “for the purpose of keeping him happy and comfortable.”
“He said, ‘Don’t worry, brother Eddie, this is only in passing. I think we can handle it,” he said.
In reply, Ramos told Enrile: “If you say so that this is in passing and that you can handle it, I’m sure that you can be successful and that you can handle it just like the other events in your life.”
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