Ramos rules out any return of authoritarianism

Ramos rules out any return of authoritarianism

MANILA (Reuter): President Fidel Ramos disavowed any plans to
declare martial law yesterday and urged the armed forces to
oppose anyone who may have "a hidden agenda" to return
authoritarian rule to the Philippines.

Ramos's comment, among his strongest ever public disclaimers
of any plan to grab authoritarian powers, came on the same day as
churches around in the country resounded with attacks against a
proposed security law that church leaders said might be used to
curb dissent.

"There are some who speculate about authoritarian regime being
returned to the Philippines under the present leadership," Ramos
said in a speech to civilian and military leaders at the
Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in northern Baguio city.

"I say to all of them, there is no way that we shall ever
return to martial law under the Ramos administration...There is
no way.

"I am sure I can count on our (PMA) alumni here to be the
first to rise up and challenge any return to authoritarianism by
anyone who may have a hidden agenda of that nature."

Ramos has come under fire from church leaders, opposition
politicians and media over his call for a tough "anti-terrorism"
law that would give police wide powers to fight extremists.

The state-backed bill would allow phone tapping and breaking
bank secrecies. One version, from which Ramos has dissociated
himself, would allow police to make arrests without warrants.

Critics have said the proposed law could pave the way for the
return of a Ferdinand Marcos-type dictatorship Filipinos
overthrew in a 1986 popular revolt. Ramos, then national police
chief, helped lead the revolt.

The nation will celebrate next week the 10th anniversary of
that uprising.

"A democratic and civilized society cannot use the weapons of
terrorism to fight a war against terrorists," Ramos said in his
speech broadcast nationwide by state radio.

He slammed critics whom he said had been giving the impression
the Philippines was "about to fall apart."

While Ramos spoke, priests in pulpits around the country read
a pastoral letter recently adopted by the Philippines' more than
100 bishops strongly opposing the security legislation.

"Such measures give the distinct impression that the very
means supposedly intended to curb terrorism will be used to
terrorize citizens themselves or curtail political dissent," the
letter said.

Veteran political analyst Amando Doronila, writing for the
Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper, said yesterday Filipinos had
become widely disenchanted with the government and Ramos "has
lost control."

"With the government unstuck, policy disasters followed in
successive waves, threatening political stability as well as the
economic gains of the past three years," Doronila said.

The escalating attacks on Ramos prompted his wife, Amelita,
who normally keeps a low profile in media, to publicly defend her
husband.

"I know the president is doing everything to help our people.
But whatever he does it seems that to people he has done nothing
and yet foreigners say our economy is doing so well," Mrs Ramos
told reporters.

"Sometimes, it is so difficult to spell out the people."