It's official: Ex-PNP chief Ebdane is new DND boss

Ending months of speculation, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday named a former National Police chief – Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane – as the new head of the Department of National Defense (DND). Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye made the announcement, saying the President has "full confidence" that Ebdane can implement the Defense Reform Program. "I am pleased to announce that the President has appointed Secretary Ebdane as the new DND chief," Bunye said. With Ebdane's new post, Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan will assume the helm of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in an acting capacity. Last November, Newsbreak magazine reported that 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. 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." The appointment of Edbane may pose serious questions on integrity and credibility, however, 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. The Davide and Feliciano Commissions, which investigated the 1989 coup and the 2003 Oakwood mutiny respectively, had both recommended that civilians take on the top DND post. In the face of such "baggage," Bunye insisted that Ebdane was the best choice for the job. "We tried to please everybody, we end up pleasing nobody. The important thing is the President has full confidence in the capability of Secretary Ebdane. I personally believe that he would be able to do a good job at the DND position," he said. However, Bunye refused to entertain questions about Ebdane's involvement in the "Hello, Garci!" scandal, saying that, "We do not wish to dignify these allegations with any further comments." 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. Meanwhile, Bunye said Ebdane just needs to do "some transition work" at the DPWH and that "preparations are being made" for the change in leadership. "Before (Ebdane) takes over, the President will still be the concurrent DND chief. But the turnover could be anytime," he added. - GMANews.TV