The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) called on the Senate and the House of Representatives to summon Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.to the ongoing investigations in the House regarding the Hello Garci tapes and in the Senate concerning the jueteng payola. 

According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of KMP, “it seems that the common link among these controversies except for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself, Virgillo Garcillano and Michaelangelo Zuce is Sec. Ebdane, not that he was present in these events but he seems to be the one who is collecting and silencing key witnesses in the said controversies. It is said that he is the one hiding Garcillano and according to Zuce, Ebdane was also looking for him to shut him up before he came out with his expose,”

“Considering these revelations why hasn’t the House nor the Senate summoned Ebdane up till now? Is he a sacred cow of Malacanang? Or is the hunt for Garcillano just a moro-moro? Because as it is Garcillano is nowhere to be found after two months of looking for him, the only logical conclusion is that the government has him and is keeping him from public scrutiny, lest he say anything that would further incriminate the fake president,” added Ramos.

Meanwhile Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general of KMP, “with all these indications Sec. Ebdane seems to be a key member of the dirty tricks department of Malacanang tasked with acquiring and silencing individuals and their families that would pose a threat to the already shaky Macapagal-Arroyo administration. It is best that solons summon him now, before he himself disappears,”

“The controversies hounding Gloria will definitely spread and implicate more of her cabinet and most of her trusted men,” ended Marbella. # # #
 

KMP - 4 August 2005