FVR's advice to 'insecure' Duterte: Consult the people to build consensus

Describing President Rodrigo Duterte as insecure, former President Fidel V. Ramos said the chief executive needs to consult with the public when it comes to policy decisions to be able to get their support.

Ramos made the pronouncement in an online interview on Thursday.

"A lot of these fears being generated by him is because he is afraid of fear or he is not secured. He is insecure. Pardon me for saying this, Mr. President Duterte, but you must be at peace with yourself, do not talk about dying soon or being killed or not caring about your life," Ramos said.

"You must preserve your life, you have a lot of things to do and people will support you. We don't want the president to be just disposed of like that. You are elected for six years, you fulfill it," he added.

Ramos said government officials led by Duterte needs to do consultations "that will lead to some kind of a majority decision or a consensus."

"There is a need for more consultation by the leaders, led by the president, with other stakeholders, meaning the people themselves, including the most ordinary guy," Ramos said.

"We used to have that system. It's in the law but not being practiced anymore since the time of President Gloria Arroyo," he added.

He added that the public should not be afraid to speak out.

Ramos supported Duterte during the 2016 elections, but has been voicing out his concerns toward the administration after the new president took office last June.

Duterte appointed Ramos as special envoy to China in July, but the former president later resigned. —Anna Felicia Bajo/JST, GMA News