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Fidel V. Ramos was the Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and head of the Constabulary when he defected from ex-President Ferdinand Marcos, his cousin. He joined Juan Ponce Enrile, Defense Minister during that time, in mounting the military rebellion during the Marcos regime, which eventually led to the 1986 People Power at EDSA. Ramos and Enrile joined the rebels who were already at Camp Aguinaldo on February 22, 1986, as brave Filipino men and women protected them with their own bodies. Marcos eventually left Malacañang, and his 20-year regime finally ended.

After EDSA 1986, Ramos was appointed Chief of Staff of the AFP, and then Secretary of National Defense. He personally handled the military operations that crushed nine coup attempts during the Aquino government. He eventually became the 12th president of the country, serving from 1992 to 1998. Although he is considered by many as the most capable of all the post-EDSA presidents, Ramos’ administration were also implicated in several cases of corruption, including the PEA-Amari and the Centennial Expo fiascos.

In January 2001, he again played an important part in the success of the second EDSA revolution that took the presidency from Joseph Estrada and put then Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in power. Currently, Ramos is the Chairman Emeritus of the Lakas-CMD Party. He is also active in ecological projects through his foundation.

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