MANILA, Philippines ? The temporary designation of Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. as officer in charge of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) while Secretary Ronaldo Puno is away on sick leave does not sit well with Sen. Loren Legarda.
?Sick of what? Sick of politics?? said Legarda, who was asked at the weekly Kapihan sa Senado Thursday about Puno?s excuse for flying to the United States on June 27.
As DILG head, Puno has administrative supervision over all elective local officials across the country.
Legarda said that although she could not question Puno?s reason for his seemingly abrupt trip, she wondered why Ebdane was chosen to take over for him instead of an interior undersecretary who would likely be better suited for the job.
?I don?t know, why not a usec (undersecretary)?? said Legarda.
Not advisable
She said it was not advisable for the secretary of public works to also take the helm of another big department that handled sensitive political matters, especially since the Department of Public Works and Highways had a lot of work to do.
?I haven?t heard of any secretary with concurrent capacity over two big portfolios. For how long will it be? I?m clueless,? Legarda said.
She said Ebdane should concentrate instead on unclogging waterways and other public works with the onset of the rainy season, citing as an example the Rio Grande in Cotabato City which needs to be dredged due to heavy siltation.
?So how can you don two hats?? she said.
Malacañang on Wednesday announced that Puno had taken a ?health leave? to undergo a heart checkup in the US and that Ebdane was officer in charge of the DILG until Puno returned.
But DILG Assistant Secretary for Media Brian Yamsuan gave a different story.
Puno, he said, was not ill but would attend his daughter Tami?s wedding on July 4 in San Francisco, California, remaining in the US until July 12.
?There is no health reason for it. In fact, right now, he?s having dinner with his family,? said Yamsuan, speaking by phone from Los Angeles.
