Marcos has picked new DILG chief

MANILA, Philippines — Out of a shortlist of two, President Marcos has chosen the replacement for Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, who is running for senator in the 2025 polls.

Speaking to reporters in Tarlac yesterday, Marcos said Abalos’ replacement would be announced once he files his certificate of candidacy. Appointive officials are deemed resigned from their posts upon filing their COCs.

“Oo, yeah,” Marcos said when asked if he has found a replacement for the outgoing chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Two persons were in the shortlist of possible DILG chiefs, he said.

Asked if he could already identify who would replace Abalos, Marcos replied: “That’s premature. Wait, wait.”

“I don’t want him (Abalos) to feel that we are already pushing him out... especially that he has done such a good job as DILG. So, when he will file, we will also announce his replacement,” he added. Abalos, a former mayor and congressman of Mandaluyong who also served as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, was named DILG secretary in 2022.

The filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2025 midterm elections will be from Oct. 1 to 8.