Ebdane loses cool over ‘Hello, Garci’ query

Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr on Friday lost his cool anew on questions surrounding the infamous “Hello, Garci" wiretapping scandal, which supposedly detailed a plot to rig the 2004 presidential election. “Tapos na, kwan na. It’s now 2007. Harapin natin tong eleksyon na ito (That scandal is over. Let’s focus on the upcoming elections)," Ebdane said in an ambush interview when asked by a TV reporter what happened to the officers and generals mentioned in the “Hello, Garci" tape. Incidentally, Ebdane was among the police and military generals implicated in the tape. Aside from Ebdane, who was Philippine National Police chief at that time, the other officer mentioned in the tape was then PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Arturo Lomibao, who later rose to become PNP chief. The four military generals mentioned in the tape were then Army chief and now AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, then Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko, then Joint Task Force Comet chief Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon and then 1st Marine Brigade chief Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani. It was implied in the tape that all the generals and officers, except Gudani, cheated in favor of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Gudani, who supposedly supported an opponent of the President, testified before the Senate how allies of the administration in Lanao del Sur rigged the elections. “Siguro patapusin natin muna tong elekyong to bago natin pag-usapan uli yan, walang mangyayari e (Let’s finish first this election before discussing that once more…it’s pointless)," said Ebdane while staring at the reporter. Ebdane then left. Some media men caught up on Ebdane as he was about to enter the elevator. The defense chief calmly answered another set of questions from the media, including his directive to the military in connection with the upcoming elections. Ebdane said the role that should be played by the soldiers in the elections is well defined under the Memorandum of Agreement signed by the defense department and the Commission on Elections in October last year. The MOA, which seeks to limit the involvement of the soldiers in the elections, states that the military will not be deputized to perform election-related duties unless in areas where there are serious armed threats. “They (soldiers) must also cast their vote and make the election peaceful and orderly, then all others its already embodied in the instruction," he said, referring to the provision of the MOA which was initiated by then Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz principally to insulate the military from partisan politics. “If called upon by the Comelec, they (soldiers) have to follow the Comelec but there must be a written (deputation) order…At least, there is a written order from the Comelec official," the defense secretary added. Ebdane could not say how many soldiers have been deputized by the Comelec for the elections. Earlier, Esperon said that Army units were deployed in Abra, Masbate, Nueva Ecija provinces and San Carlos City in Pangasinan. Ebdane said his office is monitoring possible violence that might be committed by local candidates. - GMANews.TV