FVR camp says admin behind US report leak Military dismisses Ramos link to coup plots --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A HIGH administration official was behind the leak of an alleged United Embassy report linking President Fidel Ramos to an alleged power grab against President Arroyo, a spokesman of Ramos said yesterday.

The spokesman, Ed Malay, said claims by Palace officials that the opposition was behind the leak was intended to sow confusion.

"Basta hindi talaga opposition ang nagkakalat nito. Siguro ang taong yan gusto lang mag-away away ang lahat," he said.

When pressed to identify the administration official, Malay declined.

"Kung sino yun, mag-deny siya na yun" Malay said in a text message.

He said the timing of the leak was also suspicious.

"The fact that the alleged report was dated Feb. 24, 2005 and leaked out in October for an event that was supposed to be staged in June makes it unbelievable and amusing," he said.

The alleged US Embassy report said that Ramos gave his former national security adviser Jose Almonte until June to implement the plan against Arroyo. It also added that Ramos had been in a series of meetings with members of the Federation of Retired Commissioned and Enlisted Soldiers (Forces) in pursuit of the alleged coup plot.

Among the prominent members of Forces are Ramos’ budget secretary Salvador Enriquez and defense.

The report is just the latest to touch on Ramos’ rocky relationship with Arroyo whom observers said was saved just in time by Ramos last July 8 when her economic managers quit the Cabinet and called on her to resign.

Ramos has been calling on Arroyo to cut short her term through a constitutional amendment that would replace the presidential system with a parliamentary form of government.

The Armed Forces said it was unlikely of Ramos to hatch a plot to oust Arroyo.

AFP public information office chief Col. Tristan Kison said: "It is not in the nature of President Ramos to plan a coup d’etat. Being a former president, he knows that having a coup will have a negative effect on the economy."

Kison acknowledged that the Intelligence Service of the AFP is assessing the statements of Ramos.

But on evidence linking Ramos to the plot, Kison said, "I believe there is none."

Ramos played a major role in the ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and of President Joseph Estrada in 2001. – Ashzel Hachero and Victor Reyes
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And to think, it was Malacanang who first called FVR saying that they don't believe the report and pointing their fingers to the opposition. Kakatawa parang kasabihan sino unang pumiyok siya ang umutot