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Ebdane is frontrunner; next SND known within 2 months


Amid reports that a retired police general will succeed outgoing Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday maintained she is in no hurry to name the person to man the defense portfolio come December 1. Interviewed in Singapore, President Arroyo chose to play coy when asked if Cruz’s successor would be a retired military or police official or would come from the civilian sector as previously recommended by both the Davide and Feliciano Commissions. "I will let you know sometime within the two months," the President told reporters. "I will be secretary of defense for at least two months, so there is no rush to announce a new secretary of defense after me. I have very deep respect for Nonong Cruz, and I only wish him the best success," Mrs Arroyo said. The President is expected to return to the country 12:40 a.m. Tuesday, fresh from attending the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit in Vietnam and talks with businessmen in Singapore. Earlier in the day, Newsbreak magazine reported that Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane’s assumption to the defense portfolio was already a done deal. A product of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1970, Ebdane served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from July 2002 to August 2004. The fortnightly publication cited two unnamed Defense department officials close to Cruz as its source in Ebdane’s supposed designation as incoming Defense chief. But in an interview with GMANews.TV, Undersecretary Rodel Cruz said he has yet to be informed of any appointment once Secretary Cruz’s resignation takes effect on November 30. Frontrunner "As far as I’m concerned, I am not aware of any fresh development," said Cruz, who is among the officials close to the outgoing Defense secretary. Another DND official, who refused to be identified for fear of reprisal, merely said that Ebdane is indeed one of the "frontrunners" to become Cruz’s successor. The official added that a major announcement may come November 27, when Cruz would report on his achievements as Defense chief on the same day the DND celebrates its anniversary. Another unnamed source cited by Newsbreak, this time one who is supposed to maintain close connections to the office of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, disclosed that another retired PNP chief, Arturo Lomibao, will take over Ebdane’s post at the DPWH. A DPWH insider said Ebdane was likely to stay at the department until the end of the year, and would transfer to the DND in January. "From what I heard he (Ebdane) is staying until December and will be transferred to (the) Defense (department) in January," the DPWH source said. The same source said President Arroyo called up Ebdane over the phone about the appointment before she left for the APEC meet late Friday afternoon. In a previous interview, Ebdane said he has no qualms if transferred to the DND. "I was a soldier before so if I would be called upon [to serve] I will follow." Cruz resigned days after admitting that three Cabinet secretaries wanted him sacked because of his opposition to the people's initiative petition for Charter change. Revive ‘Garci’ issue But the appointment of Edbane may pose serious questions on integrity and credibility, as the DPWH secretary had been linked to the "Hello, Garci" controversy. "What worries some defense officials is that Ebdane is joining the department with a baggage," the Newsbreak report read. During the May 2004 presidential polls, Ebdane was chief of the National Police. He was tagged to as the one who provided security for former Elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano when the latter went into hiding in June 2005 after the supposed wiretapped conversations between him (Garcillano) and the President surfaced. In the controversial conversations, the President and Garcillano were alleged to have discussed the rigging of the May 2004 polls in Mrs Arroyo’s favor. Ebdane later admitted providing a vehicle to Garcillano, but insisted that was only when the controversial poll official was still with the Comelec. In August, self-confessed "fraud operator" Arsenio Rasanan and a Comelec staff employee identified as Clinton John Colcol alleged that Ebdane and regional poll officials orchestrated the rigging of the May 2004 election results. The two claimed in separate affidavits that they were part of a conspiracy to switch election returns at the House of Representatives. Incidentally, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hemogenes Esperon Jr, was also linked to the "Hello, Garci" controversy when his name, along with three other military generals, was mentioned in the wiretapped conversation. The AFP is one of the agencies under the DND. - GMANews.TV
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