Former GRP President Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, Amboy top dog, is now set to lead the pack to consolidate the pro-US camp of reactionaries to put on greater pressure on the Duterte regime to backtrack on its promotion of an independent foreign policy.

Duterte must now be wary of Gen. Ramos who he won over as a key supporter in the May 2016 elections. It is quite apparent that US military agents in the Philippines are closely working with Ramos to counteract Duterte’s policy statements and measures against US military exercises and presence. He also seeks to countervail Duterte’s efforts to influence the AFP and serve as the US counterpole.

Duterte must double his effort to strengthen his links with the broad masses and their patriotic and democratic forces by accelerating peace negotiations with the NDFP and taking more decisive steps to address the people’s pressing demands for land, jobs, higher wages, an end to contractualization, lower prices of food, fuel and other basic commodities, free education and health service and so on.