Ebdane assumes DND post

Former National Police chief Hermogenes Ebdane formally assumed Thursday the defense portfolio, vowing to continue reforms initiated at the department by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, including the role of the military in elections. "The task for me is to continue with programs that have been put in place. we have to insulate the AFP from partisan politics. The MOA (memorandum of agreement) is very clear on the role of the soldiers," Ebdane said in his speech. Ebdane said seminars would be conducted down to the platoon level to inform the soldiers of their role during elections. The simple turnover ceremonies were held at the DND building inside Camp Aguinaldo. Representing President Arroyo was Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who is himself a former defense chief. No other former defense chiefs were present in the affair. Upon retiring from the police service in August 2004, Ebdane was named National Security Adviser, a post he held until February 2005. He then was named Public Works secretary. Ebdane's designation as DND chief had been largely criticized, particularly for his supposed involvement in the controversial "Hello, Garci" wiretapped conversation allegedly between the President and former Elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. Ebdane's name was mentioned once in the series of conversations which the political opposition said was about rigging the May 2004 presidential elections in Mrs Arroyo's favor. Both the President and Garcillano have denied the allegations. Ebdane was also said to have coddled Garcillano when the latter went into hiding when the "Hello, Garci" controversy broke out in June 2005. Ebdane's entry into the top defense post seemed to have contradicted recommendations by the Davide and Feliciano Commissions that DND heads should be a "civilian." The Davide and Feliciano fact-finding bodies looked into the December 1989 coup and the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny, respectively. As expected, Ermita defended the choice of Ebdane. "The Constitution gives (the President) the prerogative of choosing the members of the Cabinet. Definitely, no one can question the track record of Secretary Ebdane." "While the President knows the prudence of all recommendations that come her way such as the recommendations of the Feliciano commission in October 2003, even then she will have to decide on the basis of what she considers best in the interest of good governance," he said. "President Arroyo deemed that the successful pursuit of her overall strategy of governance require the caliber of one such person in Secretary Ebdane to hold the reins of the defense department. And I tend to agree with her on that," Ermita added. At the same time, Ermita said Ebdane should "ensure an orderly, free, honest and free elections." Ebdane's assumption comes at a time when the military is under fire for alleged involvement of its personnel in extrajudicial killings. To which, he said: "We will conduct seminars on human rights and will review cases of extrajudicial killings to identify (the) perpetrators." The President temporarily took over the defense portfolio upon the resignation of Avelino Cruz Jr on November 30. Cruz resigned arising from differences with other Cabinet members on the issue of Charter change. - GMANews.TV