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Corazon endorses Ramos as her successor in May polls
Off the Record
MANILA. Jan 25 : President CaraZon Aquino on Saturday endorsed former Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos as her successor, but the largest political party nominated the House speaker in a move which split administration forces, reports AP.
Mrs Aquino's announcement was also expected to trigger a realignment in the opposition among those who want to prevent Imelda Marcos from mounting a strong bld for the presidency tn the May 11 election.
In all. 19 aspirants, nine of whom are nationally prominent and considered serious candidates, say they will entei the race. 'Dial has raised concern the next president will take office June 80 with a weak mandate. There is no runoff.
"My choice springs not from a personal whim but from a conviction that the next leader must preserve these gains.' Mrs Aquino said after a Mass marking her 59th birthday.
"I'm very very happy."
Ramos told reporters. "We will not fail her and we will not fail our people."
Ramos, a 63-ycar-old West Point graduate, helped lead the 1986 uprising that toppled hts cousin, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, and propelled Mrs Aquino to power.
As military chief of staff and defense secretary. Ramos helped crush seven armed attempts to oust her from office.
Mrs Aquino had narrowed her choice to Ramos. House Speaker Ramon Mitra and Marcelo Fernan. the former
Supreme Court chief Justice.
Mitra defeated Ramos last November 30 In a straw vote within the Struggle of the Democratic Filipino, the largest pro-administration party. On Saturday, the party affirmed Mitra as Its nominee by acclamation.
During his acceptance speech. Mitra accused Mrs Aquino of tailing to fulfill the promises of the 1986 uprising.
"Now she has spoken." Mitra said. "But on May I 1. it is the people who will speak and they are going to say that
it is Mitra who is going to be president of this country."
Mitra was imprisoned by Marcos during martial law at which time Ramos. a Protestant in a largely Catholic nation, was serving as commander of the national police. Influential figures in the Roman Catholic hierarchy have cited Ramos' martial law role ' in opposing him.
Mrs Aquino's husband. Benigno Aquino, was imprisoned for seven years during the crackdown and was murdered in 1983 when he re-
turned from exile in the United States to challenge Marcos.
Bren Gulao. governor of Pampanga province and an Aquino confidante, said Mrs Aquino had forgiven Ramos for martial law.
"I guess it must have been several coup attempt* on the president. "Ouian said, ’ She was very thankful to Raima."
If Mitra can hold the Struggle party together, he will have the largest and most effective nationwide politic*! network.