Ebdane serious in 2010 presidential bid, son says

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga - With the purported support of some administration officials, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane is “very serious" about his possible presidential bid in 2010, his son said Thursday. Thirty-four-year-old Omar Ebadane, the secretary’s youngest child, told reporters here that his father has not given up hopes of bagging the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party's endorsement as it has yet to hold its convention to decide who the administration standard bearer in the 2010 polls will be. The Lakas executive committee had earlier picked Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as its most likely presidential bet in next year's elections. [See: Lakas-Kampi picks Teodoro as 2010 standard bearer] FVR But Ebdane's camp seems to be the least affected by the Lakas executive committee decision. Omar said his father has the support of more than 10 Lakas members, but he refused to name them. He admitted, however, that Ebdane has been communicating with former President Fidel Ramos, though the actual content of the talks was “unpredictable" because “they’re both military men." Ebdane is a product of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1970 while Ramos, a product of the US Military Academy in the early 1950s. It was during an interview with Senate reporters on September 25 that Ebdane confirmed his plans to seek the highest elective post next year. "I have become interested … I think within the circumstances, I think we can join the fight," Ebdane said before the start of the Senate inquiry on the proceeds of the Road Users’ Tax and Motor Vehicle User’s Charge that day. But Ebdane was also quick then in saying that he has yet to make his decision final. He said that he will announce his decision between November 20 to 30, the period for the filing of certificates of candidacy for all electoral posts in the 2010 polls. No support yet To date, Omar said no business or religious group, or even a single "civil society" group, has come forward to pledge support for his father, a former chief of the National Police. What matters for now is that his father has the edge in terms of "experience," Omar said. "I could say experience in terms of working under pressure, management." Omar said Ebdane’s “busy" job was probably what kept him from revealing his political plans early on. While he said Ebdane has not made a final decision, Omar said the family will surely support his father when the time comes. Omar made the statements during the DPWH’s relief operations in Region 3, where he represented his dad who was in Davao. It was unknown why Ebdane was in Davao, and even his son was clueless about it. - GMANews.TV