GMA names Ebdane OIC of DILG

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo has designated Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. as officer-in-charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) after Secretary Ronaldo Puno went on a two-week medical leave.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced this yesterday even as he gave no details on Puno’s health condition.

But DILG Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Brian Yamsuan said Puno went on leave to attend the wedding of his daughter Tami in the United States on July 4. He will be back on July 15.

Ermita said Puno was on “health leave” to have his heart checked in the US.

“For all you know, the reason why he left is that he wants to be sure that he is in good health. He is preparing for a political exercise,” Ermita said.

Puno has announced that he will run for vice president in next year’s national elections.

Ermita’s announcement came as a surprise to many who heard from Puno that he was going to the US for his daughter’s wedding.

The Executive Secretary was apparently not informed about the specifics of Puno’s trip, as his role was merely ministerial in this case, Palace officials said.

“Apparently, Secretary Puno himself must have called the President about his trip, but I was the one who signed his travel authority,” Ermita said.

Asked why Ebdane was designated as the OIC of the DILG instead of the deputies of Puno, Ermita said that it was “the President’s wish that the overseer be a Cabinet secretary.”

“That is her decision. The whys and wherefores, of course we don’t normally ask why him?” Ermita said.

Ebdane said he would have to double his efforts, at least in the next 15 days, since he would be occupying two Cabinet positions.

Ebdane said Ermita informed him that he would assume a concurrent position in the DILG.

To cope with the demands of two sensitive positions, he would have to rely on the support of the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, directors and other officials at the DILG. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan