Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri filed on Monday, Aug. 1 filed Senate Resolution (SR) No.72 expressing the profound sympathy and sincere condolences of the Senate on the death of former President Fidel Valdez Ramos, who is fondly referred to as FVR.
Ramos, the 12th President of the Republic of the Philippines, passed away on July 31, 2022 at the age of 94.
The resolution stated that Ramos's administration was known for the program, Philippines 2000, which envisioned the country to be newly Industrialized by the year 2000; for instituting economic reforms that drove investments in the country to surge; and for navigating the Philippine economy during the 1997 East Asia Financial Crisis steering the country's recovery efforts and turning the "Sick Man of Asia" into Asia's Next Tiger Economy.
Parts of the resolution follow:
‘’Whereas the Ramos administration can also be credited for signing a peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front in 1996, putting to an end a 25-year strife that claimed the lives of more than 120,000 Filipinos, and for bringing the issue of the Spratlys to the world's attention;
‘’Whereas, even after his retirement from politics, he continued to mobilize the citizenry and pushed for best practices in unity, solidarity and teamwork in nation-building, and continued to interact with world leaders in various fora and platforms;
‘’Whereas, the passing away of a brilliant military man, politician, and statesman is a great loss to the nation," the resolution read.
The resolution also stated that Ramos was born on March 18, 1928 in Lingayen, Pangasinan to spouses Narciso Ramos and Angela Valdez, and was married to Amelita Jara Martinez with whom he had five daughters: Angelita, Josephine, Carolina, Cristina, and Gloria.
Ramos was a soldier and civil engineer, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Military Engineering from the United States Military Academy in 1950, his master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois in 1951, and ranking eighth in the Philippine Civil Engineering Board Exam in 1953.
He also holds a master's degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines and a master's degree in Business Administration from Ateneo de Manila University.
The Senate resolution also stated that
‘’ Ramos was a gallant, dutiful, and decorated soldier, having fought in the Korean War in 1952 as an Infantry Reconnaissance Platoon Leader with the 20th Battalion Combat Team and the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea, and holding various command and staff duties as Junior Officer in the Philippine Army for 10 years before leading the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) as Group Commander from 1962 to 1965, and from 1966 to 1968 as Chief of Staff of the First Philippine Civic Action Group to Vietnam;
In 1968, Ramos was appointed Presidential Assistant on Military Affairs before being named the Chief of Intelligence Service or J2 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 1969, and later on as Brigade Commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army;
Ramos was Deputy Chief of Staff for Home Defense of the AFP in 1971, and served as Chief of the Philippine Constabulary from 1972 to 1986, concurrently serving as Director General of the Philippine Integrated National Police from 1975 to 1986, and then was Chief of Staff of the AFP from 1986 to 1988, and Secretary of the Department of National Defense and concurrently Chairman of the National Coordinating Council from 1988 to 1991; and
Ramos is a recipient of several military honors such as the Philippine Legion of Honor, the Distinguished Conduct Star, the Distinguished Service Star, Philippine Military Merit Medal, the United States Legion of Merit, the French Legion of Honor, and the U.S. Military Academy Distinguished Graduate Award and Legion of Merit."
A copy of the resolution will be sent to the bereaved family of the late President Ramos.