Ebdane tapped as new PNP chief

Deputy Director General Hermogenes Ebdane will be named chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) when Director General Leandro Mendoza retires in March next year.

President Arroyo made the announcement yesterday amid rumors that Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya is plotting a coup to install himself as PNP chief.

Mrs. Arroyo told reporters the coup rumors are "nothing but intrigues" being spread by Sen. Panfilo Lacson because of his "disappointment" at being ousted from the police service.

"The next PNP chief is General Ebdane and General Berroya knows that," she said. "I’m sure General Berroya never said he will be the next PNP (chief). It’s all intrigue."

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said Ebdane is the most senior among 91 aspirants for the job, which include Metro Manila police commander Deputy Director General Edgar Galvante and 89 police directors.

"Berroya had just been promoted to chief superintendent," he said.

Ebdane, Berroya and Mendoza graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1969.

While Ebdane was being promoted in the PNP, Berroya was serving time at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City for the 1989 kidnapping of Taiwanese Jack Chou.

The Supreme Court later ordered Berroya released after finding that the evidence against him was not enough to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Ebdane was deputy commander of the Presidential Security Group during the Ramos administration, and later director of the Manila police.

When Mrs. Arroyo took over Malacañang last Jan. 20, she named Ebdane commander of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) in place of Lacson.

Mrs. Arroyo later disbanded the PAOCTF.

Ebdane now heads the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force. — Marichu Villanueva