In a press conference and media tour of his office at the 26th floor of Urban Bank building in Makati City yesterday, the former President also warned of an impending national crisis due to the increasing gap between the rich and the poor, adding that the poverty problem must be given priority concern by the national leadership to avert the possibility of poor people attacking the elite villages once these poor people can no longer take their sufferings.

Ramos said he would never join in a caravan aimed at overthrowing the President as he dashed speculations that he would join two ex-Presidents — Corazon C. Aquino and Joseph E. Estrada — to unseat the incumbent President.

"I’m not in a habit of inviting people for my political benefit. These are people who want to see me," he said, citing he never initiated political meetings.

In his recent meeting with Senate President Franklin Drilon and former Senator Vicente Sotto III, Ramos said it was the two gentlemen who sought audience with him at his private office.

Ramos said Drilon and Sotto asked him if he was willing to sign a covenant with former Presidents Aquino and Estrada.

"I supposed that covenant is to unseat the incumbent. I will not be part of any covenant with former President Erap Estrada until there is a closure of the case pending against him in the Sandiganbayan," Ramos said.

He said his decision to join Estrada, who was ousted in a 2001 militarybacked revolt and is facing plunder charges, might influence the decision of the court.

"Besides, I have my own formula and that is unity, teamwork, and solidarity which the present leadership is utterly lacking because elected leaders must do their jobs. We used to have this before during my presidency," he said.

He disclosed he was supposed to meet former agrarian reform secretary Horacio "Boy" Morales in Nov. 8 last year, but was cancelled due to Morales’ pronouncements which destroyed the "ambience."

He said he had also met with former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., former Defense Secretary Fortunato Abat, former Budget Secretary Salvador Enriguez, El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde, and Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, archbishop of Cebu.

The national leaders must relearn the rules of power, management, leadership, and discipline, he said.

He reiterated that his support for the President is "incidental and secondary," saying that Mrs. Arroyo should accordingly act and decide for the "well-being of the Filipino people and integrity of the Republic of the Philippines."

Ramos also said that the government of President Arroyo can still survive the crisis and achieve its goal.