PHILIPPINES NEWS SERVICE — PUBLIC Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. is seriously considering giving Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. a good fight in getting the nomination of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
Ebdane has admitted that he intends to run for the presidency after local officials from Mindanao expressed their support for his candidacy.
”I think within the circumstances, I think we can join the fight,” Ebdane told reporters on the sidelines of the Senate hearing on budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He said “national to barangay officials” and “organizations from several sectors” have expressed their support for his candidacy.
Asked what party he would join, Ebdane said:”There are alternatives.” He raised the possibility that he may join another political party or run as an independent.
“Each party has to choose a single candidate,” he said. “You’ll have to look at it at another viewpoint. They [Lakas-Kampi] have no official candidate yet,” he added.
Malacañang admitted that it’s not too late for Ebdane to throw his hat into the political ring.
Presidential Economic Affairs Spokesman Gary Olivar said Ebdane or any other presidential aspirant can still seek the endorsement of any party as its standard bearer considering that the formal selection process has yet to happen.
“There is no formal selection yet by Lakas-Kampi-CMD and other political parties dahil hindi pa pwede under Comelec rules,” Olivar said.
Even though the national executive committee of Lakas-Kampi-CMD already reached a consensus to endorse Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro as its standard bearer in next year’s election, the decision is still up for ratification in the party’s national convention.
“Hindi pa tapos ang labanan. Hindi pa lahat ng baraha nakalabas, it’s still possible for latecomers,” Olivar said.
Ebdane admitted his intention to seek the presidency citing the support of various groups from national to barangay levels. He said he had sounded off President Macapagal-Arroyo about it and the latter told him that the position is open for everybody.