Current, former gov't execs pay last respects to Fidel V. Ramos

Current and former government officials on Thursday visited the wake of the late President Fidel V. Ramos at the Heritage Park in Taguig City, according to Jhomer Apresto's report on Super Radyo dzBB.

Citing the logbook, the report said among the first visitors were Energy Secretary Rafael Lotilla, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Speaker Martin Romualdez, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Senator Francis Tolentino, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and wife Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado, and former Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. visited

Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc lawmakers expressed condolences to the family of the late president, saying Ramos pursued peace and justice.

"The Makabayan bloc in Congress extends its  condolences to the family and friends of former President Fidel Valdez Ramos. He was a leader who understood that for our country to prosper we need peace based on justice and that it can only be attained by addressing the root causes of armed conflict," they said in a statement.

"President Ferdinand [Bongbong] Marcos Jr. would do well to follow his example on the question of peace," they added.

Makabayan lawmakers in the House of Representatives include: Representatives Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, France Castro of Alliance of Concerned Teachers, and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan.

In an earlier press conference, Castro also hailed Ramos for pursuing peace process with the communist rebels.

"Mahalaga ang ginampanan ng kanyang administrasyon doon sa pagsulong ng peace process ng Pilipinas sa NDF (National Democratic Front)," Castro said.

(His administration played a key role in pushing for the peace process with the NDF.)

"Isa ito sa kanyang mga legacy na gusto natin pahalagahan, at may delegasyon po ng Makabayan na pupunta po mamaya sa lamay [ng dating Pangulo]," Castro added.

(This is one of his legacies that we want to cherish, and so a delegation from the Makabayan bloc will visit the late President's wake later.)

It was during the Ramos administration in 1995 when the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) was inked between the Philippine government and communist rebels, a pact which provided  safety and immunity to negotiators, consultants, staffers, security, and other personnel who participated in the peace process. 

The Additional Implementing Rules Pertaining to the Documents of Identification and Additional Implementing Rules of the JASIG Pertaining to the Security of Personnel and the Conduct of Consultations in Furtherance of the Peace Negotiations were inked between the two parties also under the Ramos administration in June 1996 and March 1998.

Ramos, who died at the age of 94, will be accorded a state funeral on August 9, according to Malacañang. His death was announced by his family on Sunday, July 31.  —Llanesca Panti/KBK/AOL, GMA News