Despite the presidential bid of Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., another Cabinet official, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. is taking his chances to be chosen as the administration’s standard-bearer in the actual convention to be held by Lakas-Kampi-CMD this month.

“He (Ebdane) is very serious (to run for president). And he is looking at Lakas-Kampi as his political party,” said Ebdane’s 34-year-old son Omar Ebdane, a businessman, when asked on Thursday by reporters about the political plans of his father.

The younger Ebdane said his father is pinning his hopes on being the standard-bearer of Lakas-Kampi-CMD since the party has not make it final yet who will be its presidential candidate for next year’s elections.

Omar surprisingly showed up Thursday together with Public Works officials and employees and contractors during separate relief operations in Guagua, Pampanga and Botolan, Zambales. His sudden appearance is reportedly has something to do with Ebdane’s presidential bid.

He explained that his father is being backed by other administration officials in Mindanao and other members belonging to Lakas-Kampi-CMD, an indication that Ebdane might contest the nomination of Teodoro during the party’s convention.

But Omar cannot clearly say whether there are business or religious groups, or even members of the civil society that are in support of Ebdane’s candidacy.

At the same time, he refused to give the identities of the Lakas members but hinted that there have been ongoing dialogue between Ebdane and his fellow military man former President Fidel Ramos. The content of the talks was still “unpredictable," he said.