FVR laughs off coup speculations

Former President Fidel Ramos laughed off yesterday allegations that his group was involved in a destabilization campaign against the Arroyo administration, saying he did not want to destroy his legacy.

"Why should I, of all people, be involved in a coup that could damage or destroy my own legacy to the people as president of the Philippines?" Ramos asked as he brushed aside an alleged threat by retired Army Brig. Gen. Edgardo Abenina to implicate people loyal to the former president in a coup plot.

"Why should I want to destroy the fragile stability... that I worked so hard (to preserve) as a public servant for 51 years?" Ramos remarked as he expressed support for the Arroyo administration.

Ramos issued the statements at Malacañang shortly before joining President Arroyo for the traditional New Year’s vin d’honneur for the diplomatic corps.

The former president made the remarks in reaction to The STAR story quoting Abenina as saying people close to Ramos were behind the destabilization drive, and pledged to tell all about it in a press conference tomorrow.

Shrugging off the report, Ramos urged The STAR to conduct its own investigation to unmask the people behind the disinformation campaign against him.

He said he and Abenina worked together to convince the military and police hierarchy to withdraw their support from then President Joseph Estrada during the so-called EDSA II popular uprising last January.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Arroyo dismissed the alleged coup plot against her as mere rumors that should not be given serious attention.

In her weekly radio program May Gloria ang Bukas Mo aired live from Mindanao, the President said the coup rumors started to sweep the country in November while she was on a 10-day working visit to the United States.

For his part, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes doubted the veracity of the coup rumors.

"If there are coup (plots), these are pure rumor, all for publicity sake. We should not be worried about these things. It should not be given serious attention because like what I said, there is not going to be any coup. Let’s stop worrying about it," Reyes said.

He said the perpetrators of the coup rumors were merely trying to sow confusion.

Like the President, Reyes also rejected suggestions for a loyalty check on the military and police hierarchy.

"The AFP’s loyalty is beyond doubt. They have already shown that last January and we have continued to display and demonstrate that. No need for a loyalty check," Reyes stressed. — Jose Rodel Clapano