Benhur Abalos will be next DILG chief, Bongbong spox says

Former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos will be the next chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

This was announced Friday presumptive President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr's spokesperson, Attorney Vic Rodriguez.

"I would also like to announce that chairman Benhur Abalos has been nominated to lead the Department of the Interior (and Local Government) and he has accepted the challenge to lead the Department of the Interior and Local Government," Rodriguez said at a press conference.

Abalos served as campaign manager of Marcos in the just-concluded national and local elections. Abalos also served as former mayor of Mandaluyong City. He is the son of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr.

Abalos in a statement indicated his acceptance of the post. He thanked Marcos for entrusting to him the DILG.

"At this time when there is a strong call for our nation's unity, the DILG plays a paramount role in promoting peace and order and in bringing together our local government units," Abalos said.

"Rest assured that I will do my utmost to foster thriving, peaceful communities throughout our beloved country," he added.

"The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) organization, including all our attached agencies, welcomes the announcement that former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Benjamin 'Benhur' Abalos Jr. will be nominated and appointed as the next DILG Secretary," outgoing DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

Año credited Abalos for his efforts in the COVID-19 pandemic response in NCR as MMDA chair.

"We are confident that as a former City Mayor of Mandaluyong and MMDA Chairperson, Abalos will be able to provide good direction and leadership to both the interior and local government sectors in scaling up their performance in peace and order, public safety, and local governance for the benefit of the Filipino people," Año said.

"We are hopeful that Chair Abalos will continue and build on the ongoing campaign against criminality, illegal drugs, corruption, and communist terrorism that we have focused on and which has reached unprecedented heights of accomplishment in the past six years," he added.

Año said the DILG would work closely with Abalos and his transition team for the turnover of responsibilities, particularly with the implementation of full devolution to local government units (LGUs) which started this year.

Presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte was the first one to be announced as having a Cabinet post under Marcos' term. On Wednesday, Marcos said Duterte was a mother who wanted her children to be "well-trained and well-educated."

Asked about the list circulating on social media indicating the supposed names of Cabinet members under the Marcos administration, Rodriguez said it is not true.

"'Yung kumakalat sa social media, there's no truth to that apparent list. Walang listahan, the only two names we have announced by far is that of Vice President-elect Inday Sara Duterte for the Department of Education and just now, I am announcing the nomination of chairman Benhur Abalos to lead the Department of the Interior and Local Government," he said.

According to Rodriguez, the Marcos camp is looking for a Cabinet member who will be competent enough to serve the public, has love for the country, respects the Constitution, and who is not involved in any plans to overthrow the government.

"We're in the process of searching and looking up for possible nominees for different Cabinet positions. I don't think anyone should expect that it can be announced in one setting because as you know the vetting process takes time and appointing and nominating someone, it's not a one way thing, it has to be accepted and it has to be offered," he said.

When asked about vacancies in the Commission on Human Rights and the Supreme Court, Rodriguez said the Marcos camp has not talked yet to the Duterte administration regarding the posts.

"We have not spoken to the present dispensation yet although we’ve heard that there is already a transition formed by the Office of the President but everything hinged on actual proclamation," he said.

"They do not, we do not want to come in prematurely and we just have to wait for the completion of the process, which is the official canvass of the votes for president and vice president, when Congress is in session and when they are officially proclaimed as president-elect and vice president-elect of our country as per Constitution," he added.

Meanwhile, the Marcos camp's transition team will be led by Rodriguez, together with former lawmakers Anton Lagdameo and Naida Angping and South Cotabato Governor Jun Tamayo. — RSJ, GMA News