Ramos urged to name successor

Ramos urged to name successor

MANILA (AFP): President Fidel Ramos was urged yesterday to name now the candidate he will support for the presidency, to assure the business community of continued reforms.

"There is a need to identify this leader now, to assure business, the world community, and most important the people, that the gains of economic recovery under a democracy will be sustained," said Raul Concepcion, president of the Federation of Philippine Industries.

National elections will be held in 1998, when Ramos's six-year term as president ends. The Philippine constitution bars him from seeking a second term.

Among those who have expressed interest in the presidency or have been touted as one of Ramos's choices are Vice President Joseph Estrada, Finance Secretary Roberto de Ocampo, Defense Secretary Renato de Villa, and Subic Bay administrator Richard Gordon.