Fidel Ramos

Concerning Joseph Angeo’s Feb. 5 letter commenting on Fidel V. Ramos’ candidacy to become president of the Philippines, I have a different view.

I have known Fidel Ramos since we entered West Point together in 1946 and I began teaching him basic English. I have been proud of him for 45 years as a highly ranked member of our Class of 1950, as a combat soldier fighting alongside U.S. troops against communists in Korea and Vietnam, and as a ranking military officer and civilian official in his country’s government. I was particularly impressed when, as second-in-command of his country’s armed forces, he opted to cast his lot with the Filipino people in ousting the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in favor of Corazon Aquino. While continuously serving the cause of a democratic Republic of the Philippines, Fidel Ramos has grown enormously in his grasp of world affairs.

I trust that Filipino citizens will elect the best candidate to lead the Philippines into its rightful role as an important factor in the Asian economy and as a significant contributor to an emerging world order.

DAVID K. CARLISLE, Los Angeles