Gringo to RAM: Help in nation’s recovery program

Sen. Gregorio Honasan urged Sunday officers and members of the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabayan (RAM) to help the nation in its recovery program. Honasan, the newly elected head of RAM, made the appeal amid peace and order problems in Mindanao and the uncertainties spawned by the imminent US war against Iraq.

"I call on all RAM members to contribute our share in setting in motion the national recovery process that will improve the lives of Filipino people," Honasan said during the RAM reunion and special meeting at the Kalayaan Hall of Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

Honasan recalled that with democracy firmly in place, RAM has been transformed into a broad civilian and military organization advocating good governance and socio-economic reforms. At least 44 military members and officers of RAM attended the affair, which also reminisced the historic role of the organization, then known as the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, in the peaceful ouster of the Marcos regime in 1986.

"With your support and help, I intend to reinvigorate, redirect and reunify the RAM for it to become a potent force that will provide determined leadership in addressing the crisis we are facing as a nation," he said.

Honasan was unanimously chosen to lead the newly formed steering committee composed of retired Colonels Tony Daza and Rafy Galvez, representing the Philippine Army, Tito Legaspi and Toto Bernarte, Philippine Air Force, Rex Robles and retired Navy Capt. Boy Turingan, Philippine Navy, and Police Director Vic Batac and CIDG head Supt. Ed Matillano of the Philippine National Police.