Philippine Election

So Corazon Aquino is now officially out of the Philippine presidential election and has endorsed her savior and maker, Fidel Ramos, as her choice and standard-bearer (Jan. 25).

Between the two there is little difference. Ramos is just a male version of Aquino. Like her, he is weak, incompetent and full of empty rhetoric. Above all, both try to project themselves as saintly and having the mandate of God to rule the country.

Ramos has smoked too many cigars for him to think that he can manage the Philippines. Just look at his track record. While chief of the constabulary, he failed to curb corruption and unprofessionalism among the ranks. While head of the entire armed forces we saw seven attempted coups right under his nose. Sure, he helped put them down but he lacked the foresight to see them coming. While defense secretary, the military continued to be divided while the only communist insurgency in Asia continued to operate and grow.

Let us hope that Filipinos will see the real man behind the slick public relations campaign. Let us pray that Filipinos will not be bought by government-sponsored largess come election time.

JOSEPH ANGEO

Long Beach