Ramos confident Arroyo will survive political crisis

Former Philippine president Fidel Ramos said on Sunday he is confident President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will survive the current crisis.

Speaking to reporters before boarding a plane for Bangkok, Ramos also denied allegations that he was playing a "kingmaker" role by trying to help Arroyo out.

"That's a role shadowy characters like to play and I am not like that," Ramos said.

He said he was confident that Arroyo is still president when he comes home on July 15.

Ramos, who flew to Bangkok for a conference, said on Friday that the country needed a fundamental political reform by transforming its presidential system to parliamentary system.

He suggested that Arroyo play the role of "caretaker" until May 2006, when an election is held for a single chamber parliament to replace the present two-chamber US-style congress.

Source: Xinhua