Reformer favoured by U.S.

Press, 24 February 1986, Page 6

Reformer favoured by U.S.

NZPA-Reuter Manila The Deputy Chief of the Philippines’ Armed Forces, Lieutenant-Gen-eral Fidel Ramos, has long been identified with reformist elements in the services.

A West Point graduate believed to be favoured by the United States, he denied a report last year that he was in an American State Department plot to overthrow Ferdinand Marcos, a distant cousin. General Ramos, aged 57, was due to take over from the Armed Forces’ Chief, General Fabian Ver, on March 1. He was acting Chief when General Ver was on trial last year for alleged complicity in the killing of the Opposition leader, Benigno Aquino. After General Ver was acquitted in December, General Ramos had to resume his job after mak-. ing tentative reforms to a military tainted by allegations of corruption and inefficiency in its fight against Communist rebels. The American magazine, “Executive Intelligence Review,” reported in September that the United States Ambassador, Mr Stephen Bosworth, was meeting for up to two hours a day with General Ramos, “whom the United States is attempting to groom as a leader of a new civilianmilitary junta." It quoted what it called a State Department plan as saying that General Ramos would take power with the support of a young officer’s reform group called “We Belong.”

Generar Ramos dismissed the report as “highly speculative and grossly inaccurate.” Early this month he said he believed the Presidential candidate, Corazon Aquino, had links with subversives and said

the military “would not allow the Communists to take over.” On Saturday, two weeks after an election Mrs Aquino said she was robbed of through cheating and violence, he said, “I am withdrawing my support for the President"

Mr Marcos announced last week that General Ver was retiring as military chief and that General Ramos, who heads the police and paramilitary Philippine Constabulary, would take over as Acting Chief.

He indicated that the change was immediate but a spokesman iater said it would not take effect until March 1. In the interim it appeared that Generals Ramos and Ver were issuing orders. Newspapers reported that General Ver was putting loyalists into key positions to secure a power base before he left. General Ramos, a dour but popular man, is less tainted by criticisms of the military than many senior, officers whose jobs have been extended beyond normal retirement — either after 30 years service or at the age of 56. ~

Although related to the President and his influential wife, Imelda, as are many of the commanding generals, General Ramos has always been viewed as a professional soldier. He said his meetings with the "We Belong” group had always related to his official duties. The group comprises younger officers long unhappy about slow promotions, lack of reforms, and the tarnished image of the 250,000-strong military and reserve.

Mrs Aquino tried to win the support of colonels who saw their chances of promotion blocked by the older generals.