Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has resigned—if an undated letter to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is authentic.

The Manila Times received an emailed copy of the letter late Wednesday night, after the paper’s first edition had been printed. Calls to Malacañang sources proved unavailing.

In the letter, Sec. Ebdane—after first expressing his “deepest gratitude for the opportunity to serve you and our country for the last nine years in various positions of responsibility”—explained that his “long years of experience” with the President led him to the decision to “offer myself to our countrymen and seek the presidency.”

The presidency, Sec. Ebdane’s letter said, was “an option to continue the progress and development that have been made in the last nine years.”

He then took a dig at Lakas-Kampi without referring to it by name, saying “However, there are barriers in the administration party’s selection process which negate any participation on my end.”

Sec. Ebdane said his resignation would “avoid any conflict of interest in my present position.”

He pledged to President Arroyo that he would “continue the policies and programs that have been instrumental in enabling growth in our country, and speak with conviction and commitment that arises from the productive, fruitful work that we have done together.”

“It has been an honor to serve under your leadership,” he told the President, “an even more importantly, it has been a privilege to contribute to the gains that have been made under your administration.”

Supporters of Sec. Ebdane have been putting out large newspaper advertisements hinting at the need for someone like him to do the work of building the Philippines and repairing its ills.