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In the recent Pulse Asia survey held in September, Abalos was projected to place anywhere from 18th to 28th spot
MANILA, Philippines – Benhur Abalos formalized his bid for the Senate by filing his certificate of candidacy on Monday, October 7, effectively leaving his position as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Abalos is running under the Marcos administration’s 2025 Senate coalition slate. If elected, he said he will look into reducing power rates, improving food sustainability, and amending the outdated local government code.
“Madami tayong tatalakayin. Una, kuryente, tingnan namin bakit nagkakaganun. Yung bang mga VAT (value-added tax), yung ating mga grid. Pangalawa, tingnan natin yung agrikultuta, tingnan natin yung mga farmers,” he said.
(We have a lot to discuss. First, electricity — let’s see why things are the way they are. The value-added tax, our grids. Second, let’s look at agriculture and consider the farmers.)
When asked about his replacement at the DILG, Abalos said that an officer-in-charge (OIC) will be appointed, with a formal announcement to follow soon. Malacañang confirmed that a new DILG chief will be named before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. departs for Laos on Tuesday, October 8, for the 2024 ASEAN Summit.
In the Pulse Asia survey held in September, Abalos was at 18th to 28th spot.
He first won the mayoralty race in Mandaluyong City in 1998, and became chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in 2021. He was appointed as DILG secretary in 2022.
Abalos faced public backlash when photos surfaced on social media showing him appearing friendly with dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo. In his defense, he said that the photos were taken for documentation purposes and that he was unaware Guo was posing for the camera. – Rappler.com
