MANILA: Former Philippine president Fidel Ramos strongly backed incumbent President Gloria Arroyo in the coming May presidential elections as he assailed her chief rival, movie star Fernando Poe.
In a presidential palace statement, Ramos, who is credited with spurring economic growth during his term from 1992 to 1998, was quoted as saying that the election of Arroyo would ensure continuity in national planning and reforms in governance, while that of Poe would reverse the country's economic gains.
