Miriam, FVR meet, shake hands at Malacañang meet

Mortal political rivals former President Fidel Ramos and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago were willing to let bygones be bygones, if only for a day.

Ramos shook the hand of Santiago during a break at the Council of State meeting at Malacañang yesterday, a move that elicited smiles from others present who were only too familiar with the acrimonious history of the two political leaders..

The two were rivals during the 1992 elections and Santiago has since been a vocal critic of Ramos, whom she accused of cheating his way to the presidency.

And though they now find common ground in support of President Arroyo, they are again on opposite sides of the fence when it comes to Charter change (Cha-cha).

Ramos approached the group of senators talking and first faced Richard Gordon. He then said hello to Sen. Manuel Villar before finally taking the

hand of Santiago.

The lady senator appeared happy with the gesture as she smiled at Ramos and engaged him in a very brief chat.

Before exchanging criticism again recently, the two had already forged a sort of truce after Ramos raised the hand of Santiago as one of the senatorial candidates of the ruling K-4 coalition in the 2004 elections.

As for the issue of Cha-cha, Ramos is for the immediate amendment of the Constitution while Santiago thinks the 1987 Charter is too young to be tinkered with. The senator thinks those seeking a parliamentary government merely want a shot at being prime minister.

Senators are against the Cha-cha initiative of Mrs. Arroyo, since a shift to a unicameral parliamentary system would effectively abolish their chamber.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan said the event should not have been called Council of State but a "Cha-cha express" meeting. — Aurea Calica