Manila - The Philippine President, Mr Fidel Ramos, yesterday dropped fresh hints he might try for a second term, saying he would take the increasingly heated debate over constitutional change to the people. The constitution, rewritten 10 years ago after Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in a popular revolt, limits a president to one term of six years to prevent the emergence of another dictatorship. Mr Ramos said critics planning massive protests later this month to oppose constitutional amendments did not necessarily represent the people.
After repeatedly saying he would step down when his term ends in June next year, Mr Ramos this week appeared to be retreating from his original stance despite increasingly fierce opposition from the country's influential Catholic Church and top opposition figures. - (Reuter)
