Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos is dead. He died at the age of 94, his family said on Sunday. In a statement, the family asked for privacy and “time to mourn together.” The cause of death was initially unknown. Ramos was the head of state of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998.
A graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, he rose to become chief of the national police force under dictator Ferdinand Marcos. In 1986, however, Ramos broke with the Marcos regime and, together with then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, led a popular uprising that overthrew the 20-year dictatorship.
His popularity and image as a pro-democracy advocate later encouraged him to run for president himself. Before his tenure, the island state was known as the “Sick Man of Asia”. Ramos is said to have modernized the country’s economy and attracted investment to the country.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. – son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos who was ousted in 1986 – expressed his condolences to Ramos’ family on Sunday. “Our family shares the sorrow of the Filipino people on this sad day,” he said.
