Former President of the Philippines Fidel V. Ramos died on Sunday afternoon as a result of complications from COVID-19. He was 94.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry expressed condolences to his family and the people of the Philippines in a press release issued Sunday evening.
Before serving as president, Ramos played a pivotal role in the nonviolent revolution that ended two decades under dictator Ferdinand Marcos. In 1992, he was elected leader and presided over robust economic growth during his six years in office.
Ramos belonged to a prominent political family. His father, Narciso Ramos, served as Philippine ambassador to Taiwan from 1956 to 1965, so he spent his early years in Taiwan. He met with President Tsai Ing-wen in 2017, and with former presidents Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian and Ma Ying-jeou during their terms in office.