Former President Fidel Valdez Ramos died on Sunday at the age of 94.
On Sunday night, the Ramos family acknowledged the ex president’s death but provided no other information.

In an official statement, the Ramos family said, “The Ramos family is profoundly saddened to announce the passing of former President Fidel Valdez Ramos.”

“We thank you all for respecting our privacy, as the family takes some time to grieve together,” the family stated.

The wake and funeral plans for the former president will be disclosed later, according to the Ramos family.

However, Senator Bong Revilla released a statement verifying Ramos’ death, claiming that he was the one who encouraged him to join the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, or Lakas-CMD, of that which he is now a co-chairperson.

Ramos co-founded the political party Lakas-CMD with Raul Manglapus.

“Hindi matatawaran ang naging pamana ni FVR sa bansa. Sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pamumuno ay umahon ang Pilipinas mula sa mga krisis na bumabalot sa bawat pilipino ng mga panahong iyon,” stated Revilla.

(FVR’s contribution to the country cannot be overstated; under his leadership, the Philippines emerged from the problems that engulfed every Filipino at the time.)

Ramos’ legacy, according to Revilla, is the “foundation upon which later administrations have built,” converting the nation from “the sick man of Asia to the Tiger of the Region.”

“While the passing of our Chairman Emeritus is a great loss to our Party, it does not compare to the loss of our country. He was one of the best!” he concluded.