Council of State revived with Cory, FVR as members

They’ve been there, done that.

President Arroyo said yesterday she will revive the Council of State with two of her predecessors as members to advise her on matters of national interest.

Aside from former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, the elite group will also have Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. as members.

The council was initially created by Mrs. Arroyo’s father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal.

Mrs. Arroyo said the elite body of advisers will meet regularly, but will not have any formal agenda except to discuss current issues over lunch.

Aquino, Ramos, Guingona and Pimentel were instrumental in the people power II last year that catapulted Mrs. Arroyo to the presidency after embattled President Joseph Estrada left Malacañang.

Pimentel, however, has since joined the political opposition.

Ramos’ camp was tagged as the alleged source of coup rumors that swept the country during the holidays.

Rumors also had it that Ramos would take a second shot at the presidency in 2004.

Ramos merely laughed off the allegations, saying he would not want to destroy his own legacy as a former chief executive.

For her part, Mrs. Aquino has maintained a low profile, immersing herself in the affairs of the Aquino Foundation and other non-government organizations.

President Arroyo pointed out that she had talked about reviving the council with her predecessors even before the holidays.

"I have been talking with people who criticize us and even those who don’t criticize us," Mrs. Arroyo said.

She said she consulted with Aquino about the forthcoming anniversary celebration of the February 1986 people power revolt that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said earlier Mrs. Arroyo was giving Ramos a bigger role in her administration in drawing up a national security plan for this year.

Golez said this was the main reason why the executive committee of the National Security Council (NSC) chaired by the President invited Ramos to the annual security situation review at Malacañang last Tuesday night.

Golez said the invitation was extended to Ramos because of his extensive security background.

Ramos was formerly Armed Forces chief and defense secretary before he won the presidency in 1992.

He served as the rallying point in the 1986 military-backed popular uprising against then President Ferdinand Marcos, whose subsequent flight to Hawaii paved the way for the takeover of government by Aquino.

Ramos’ camp also reportedly played a key role in the people power II in January last year that ousted Estrada.

Golez said the NSC meeting last Tuesday was more of a briefing where events of 2001 were reviewed and evaluated for its possible implications in 2002.

"It was a working meeting aimed at setting directions for year 2002," Golez said.

Others present at the meeting were Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.