MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. filed his certificate of candidacy for senator on Monday, October 7, before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is running under the administration slate of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos bared his senatorial slate during the ‘Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ Convention at the Philippine International Convention Center on September 26.
“Ang una sa ating hanay ay matagal na naging alkalde ng progresibong lungsod ng Mandaluyong. Hinalal din siya bilang Kongresista. At ngayon, siya ay ang maagap at mabisang Kalihim ng DILG,” Marcos said during the unveiling.
(Our first in the slate has long been a mayor for the progressive city of Mandaluyong. He was also voted as a representative And now, he is our attentive and effective DILG Secretary.)
Abalos served as Mandaluyong Mayor from 1998 to 2004, succeeding his politician father Benjamin Abalos Sr. He eventually became the representative of the Lone District of Mandaluyong for one term before returning to his bailiwick for another term as mayor.
Marcos made no mention of Abalos’ two year term as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair under former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Abalos resigned as the MMDA chair to serve as Marcos’ national campaign manager during the 2022 national elections.
Marcos’ presidential bid garnered him more than 31 million votes, putting him strides ahead of other presidential candidates.
Abalos is a member of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, which is currently chaired by Marcos.