Aside from the innuendo that his office allegedly had its hands inside the “Road Users Tax” cookie jar – which suggests that he could have the financial means to run a realistic national campaign – what else does former DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. possess to warrant an attempt at the presidency in May 2010?
The “Road Users Tax”, which is imposed on every vehicle owner in the Philippines every time they register or renew vehicle registrations is supposed to be used for the maintenance of road networks and drainage systems in the country. In an Economic Affairs Committee report at the Senate yesterday, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago exposed that the funds, which already totaled to an overwhelming PHP60.5-billion in a span of nine years from 2001 to 2009, are largely unaccounted for. She recommended the filing of plunder cases against those responsible for the disappearance of the funds. Ebdane and Rodolfo “Dodie” Puno, the brother of DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, are the custodians of the “Road Users Tax” in their capacity as former chairman and former executive director, respectively, of the Road Board.
So except for ostensibly being financially capable, what else drives Ebdane to embark on his quixotic adventure? It is only reasonable to believe that he does not stand a chance against the more serious candidates – I am not implying that Ebdane is a joker, for he is apparently not – such as Noynoy “Anak ni Cory” Aquino, Manny “Sipag at Tiyaga” Villar, Erap “Kunwari Mahirap” Estrada and Gibo “Manok ni Gloria” Teodoro. Heck, he won’t even stand a chance against Bayani “Lee Kuan Yew” Fernando, Jejomar “Rambotito” Binay, and more so against Chiz “Puro Dada” Escudero.
Ebdane is nowhere near the consciousness of Filipinos. Yes, he may have stenciled his face and name – together with the president’s – in every government project billboard, but those types of billboards are usually viewed with indifference, even with disdain by the common folks. Ebdane ought to realize that the faces in those kinds of billboards are often regarded with contempt and not with admiration.
Who exactly are Ebdane’s supporters? We don’t even know where he is from – the way we knew Gibo is from Tarlac and speaks fluent Ilocano, Erap is from San Juan and speaks in a slur, Villar is Laking Tondo Dugong Ilonggo and speaks a little Hiligaynon, and Noynoy is from Cory’s womb and speaks to the Pink Sisters.
In a press conference wherein he announced his candidacy, Ebdane said that he is supported by his party – the ____ Party. Yes, his party is that obscure, nobody knows what its name is. Perhaps his party’s membership is exclusive only to DPWH regional directors and district engineers, and maybe to some favored contractors and pseudo-contractors, and that is why it is, perhaps, known only to them.
Ebdane also invoked the support of former President Fidel V. Ramos, who in turn promised to announce his support – or non-support – this weekend. But who is El Tabako nowadays? Isn’t he the former kingmaker who got castrated by a former protégé, and a woman at that? By seeking Ramos’ backing, Ebdane wants to do a “Ramos ’92”. The only problem is, Ramos today is not the Cory of ’92, and more importantly, Ebdane is nowhere near the Ramos of ’92.
Given the odds, it is really baffling how Ebdane could aspire to be president. And why?
The “Road Users Tax”, which is imposed on every vehicle owner in the Philippines every time they register or renew vehicle registrations is supposed to be used for the maintenance of road networks and drainage systems in the country. In an Economic Affairs Committee report at the Senate yesterday, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago exposed that the funds, which already totaled to an overwhelming PHP60.5-billion in a span of nine years from 2001 to 2009, are largely unaccounted for. She recommended the filing of plunder cases against those responsible for the disappearance of the funds. Ebdane and Rodolfo “Dodie” Puno, the brother of DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, are the custodians of the “Road Users Tax” in their capacity as former chairman and former executive director, respectively, of the Road Board.
So except for ostensibly being financially capable, what else drives Ebdane to embark on his quixotic adventure? It is only reasonable to believe that he does not stand a chance against the more serious candidates – I am not implying that Ebdane is a joker, for he is apparently not – such as Noynoy “Anak ni Cory” Aquino, Manny “Sipag at Tiyaga” Villar, Erap “Kunwari Mahirap” Estrada and Gibo “Manok ni Gloria” Teodoro. Heck, he won’t even stand a chance against Bayani “Lee Kuan Yew” Fernando, Jejomar “Rambotito” Binay, and more so against Chiz “Puro Dada” Escudero.
Ebdane is nowhere near the consciousness of Filipinos. Yes, he may have stenciled his face and name – together with the president’s – in every government project billboard, but those types of billboards are usually viewed with indifference, even with disdain by the common folks. Ebdane ought to realize that the faces in those kinds of billboards are often regarded with contempt and not with admiration.
Who exactly are Ebdane’s supporters? We don’t even know where he is from – the way we knew Gibo is from Tarlac and speaks fluent Ilocano, Erap is from San Juan and speaks in a slur, Villar is Laking Tondo Dugong Ilonggo and speaks a little Hiligaynon, and Noynoy is from Cory’s womb and speaks to the Pink Sisters.
In a press conference wherein he announced his candidacy, Ebdane said that he is supported by his party – the ____ Party. Yes, his party is that obscure, nobody knows what its name is. Perhaps his party’s membership is exclusive only to DPWH regional directors and district engineers, and maybe to some favored contractors and pseudo-contractors, and that is why it is, perhaps, known only to them.
Ebdane also invoked the support of former President Fidel V. Ramos, who in turn promised to announce his support – or non-support – this weekend. But who is El Tabako nowadays? Isn’t he the former kingmaker who got castrated by a former protégé, and a woman at that? By seeking Ramos’ backing, Ebdane wants to do a “Ramos ’92”. The only problem is, Ramos today is not the Cory of ’92, and more importantly, Ebdane is nowhere near the Ramos of ’92.
Given the odds, it is really baffling how Ebdane could aspire to be president. And why?
Time Magazine just added fire to the enthusiasm by featuring Pacquiao on its cover – calling him “The Great Hope” – and delving into 
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