Another Lakas man eyeing presidency

MANILA, Philippines - Another administration official wants to join the already crowded presidential race.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said yesterday he is likely to run for president despite the endorsement by leaders of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro as the administration standard bearer.

A third Arroyo administration official, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando, had aspired for the official party nod on his presidential bid.

The ruling party last week chose Teodoro over Fernando. But when their attention was called about possible violation of election rules, party officials later said the decision was not yet final because it was only made by the party’s national executive committee. 

“I have become interested ... within the circumstances I think we can join the fight,” Ebdane, former chief of the Philippine National Police, told reporters at the Senate before the hearing on the alleged misuse of billions in Road User’s Tax.

“You’ll have to look at it from another viewpoint. There is still no candidate (for the administration),” he said.

“According to them that (choice of Teodoro) is not yet final but I think that it is. But we are a free country,” he added.

He said he believes he has the capability to tackle the country’s problems head on.

 “There are so many problems which you have to solve, although we have solutions. I hope everybody who would like to get the position has recommended solutions as of this time,” he said. “They should have studied the problem and can offer solutions. Otherwise what is the use of seeking the position,” he said.

Newspaper ads have sprouted showing Ebdane supervising road projects and encouraging Filipinos to consider him for 2010. He said he hasn’t received any commitment of support from any political party.

Asked if his presidential plans might ruin the administration’s game plan, he shot back, “Are you campaigning for whom (sic)?”

He said he is still confident of an endorsement from the administration.

Ebdane said he is presenting himself to the people as an alternative to other candidates who include, aside from Teodoro, senators Manuel Villar Jr, Francis Escudero or Loren Legarda, Benigno Aquino III and even former President Joseph Estrada.

“There are groups which have been convincing me. In fact there were organizations from several sectors, and I told them that running is not that easy. They might push you (to run) and leave you later,” Ebdane said.

Ebdane said he has intimidated to President Arroyo that some groups have been egging him to run for a higher post and that the president told him that the post is open to everybody.

“There is a process,” he said.

He admitted that support from a party would be crucial.

Surprised

Ebdane’s announcement of his eagerness to run for president has taken the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD by surprise.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD secretary general and presidential adviser on political affairs Gabriel Claudio said that Ebdane’s announcement was unexpected since he had never discussed his plan with anyone in the Cabinet.

“To be honest, I was taken a little bit by surprise. We never talked about this. He never mentioned it to us,” Claudio said in a telephone interview.

As a member of the Cabinet, Claudio said that Ebdane could have said something about his plans at any time to him or to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who is interim president of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

While Ebdane is not a member of the party, Claudio said that Ebdane could always be considered a nominee to the different elective posts available in next year’s polls being a member of the official family of the President.

“He’s a valued member of the Cabinet. We acknowledge and appreciate his accomplishments as secretary of Public Works,” Claudio said.

Claudio said that technically, Teodoro’s nomination by the national executive committee would still have to be confirmed by the party membership during the national convention later this year.

This means that Ebdane, if he wishes to take part in the selection process, may still have a chance.

“It’s something that will be tossed back to the national executive committee,” Claudio said.

But Claudio said he was not optimistic about the chances of Ebdane or any other aspirants for that matter, except Teodoro.

He said the national executive committee’s choice of Teodoro would carry a lot of weight during the national convention where the nomination would be ratified.

“All he has to do is talk to the leadership of the party so that we will know his intentions,” Claudio said, referring to Ebdane.

Claudio noted that Ebdane was being considered as a possible candidate of the party for the senatorial race along with several other members of the Cabinet.

But now that the DPWH chief has signified his intention to run for president, Claudio said they would have to discuss their next move.

“We would have to discuss it in private with him,” he said.

Claudio admitted that Ebdane has his own supporters from within the party and that this is expected because he is a member of the Cabinet.

However, he said, everyone concerned would have to abide by and support the final decision of the party.

“There is no reason to worry. This increases the dynamism and adrenaline within the party. The unity, structure and sense of purpose of the party is as firm as ever,” Claudio said.

Signs

After the paid newspaper ads, there are now orange t-shirts and streamers in and around the DPWH office openly displaying support for Ebdane.

A number of DPWH employees were seen wearing orange colored shirts emblazoned with “We want a new face in 2010!” in front and the words “KALSADA ang daan sa kaunlaran (road to progress)” on the back. There was no mention of the name of Ebdane in the slogans.

DPWH spokesman and Undersecretary for Luzon Romeo Momo said more “voluntary” paid advertisements are expected in the coming days showcasing Ebdane’s achievements.

“The paid advertisement (is a sign) that there is a clamor from sectors. It is a result of the many developments in the country that Secretary Ebdane has accomplished. Many local government units (LGUs) said that their needs were given attention under the leadership of Secretary Jun,” Momo said.

Momo said the print advertisements were “voluntarily done by the local leaders because they wanted to encourage the Secretary to run for president...He (Ebdane) said that he is making himself available for this coming elections.”

In a radio interview last Thursday, Ebdane said that there had been several people urging him to enter the presidential race. “Let us see. I think that the position would bring problems and many challenges (but) there had been a lot of people pushing me to run and I think we should not turn our backs from the work.”

He said that he has already informed President Arroyo of his political plans “but they have already closed their list. If the Filipino people want me to enter this race then maybe we should join another party.”

When asked if Ebdane would resign as DPWH Secretary since he would be running for president and would not be throwing his support behind the administration’s bet, Momo said, “I could not preempt the decision of the Secretary.”

Meanwhile, Presidential Management Staff Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Ebdane’s track record would make him capable of handling a higher and more sensitive position.

Ebdane, he said, had served as defense secretary, National Security Adviser and acting Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“I think from his previous positions, you will have a sense of how he could run (the country) and how much competence he has gained over the years. If indeed there is a plan, it’s an open field,” Esperon said.

But Esperon, a Lakas-Kampi member, declined to say if he is supporting Ebdane.

“We have been closely working together as Cabinet officials but I don’t know his exact political plans yet. Let us wait for a while.” With Marvin Sy, Evelyn Macairan