In the Mid-1990s, Ebdane served as
PNP-NCR director and the 9th Chief of the
Philippine National Police from July 2002 to August 23, 2004. After the escape from jail of Islamic militant Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi on July 14, 2003, Ebdane stated he would be satisfied with any recovery, including "even if he is dead and torn to pieces". He went to view the body after Al-Ghozi was shot dead by police on October 13, 2003, saying the militant was killed in a brief gunfight after opening fire at a military checkpoint. One of the demands of the
Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003, was the resignation of Ebdane as national police chief, but the mutiny was unsuccessful and short-lived. He was chief of the PNP during the
Hello Garci scandal and admitted to providing a vehicle to
Virgilio Garcillano, but only when Garcillano was still with the
Commission on Elections. He said violence for the
May 2004 election was lower than in previous years. == National security ==