Jamaine Punzalan

Senatorial candidate,  former DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos answers questions during Harapan 2025 at the ABS-CBN headquarters in Quezon City on February 25, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

HARAPAN 2025

Jervis Manahan

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p> MANILA — Former DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary, Malacanang confirmed Wednesday. </p><p>He will take his oath of office this afternoon. </p><p>Abalos is returning to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet after the one-year appointment ban on losing 2025 elections candidates lapsed. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/06/28/22/profile-interior-secretary-benhur-abalos">PROFILE: Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos</a></div><p>Abalos resigned as chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in 2024, shortly before he filed his certificate of candidacy for senator.</p><p>He was part of the administration’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate in 2025, but failed to cinch one of the 12 vacant Senate seats as he landed on the 16th place.</p><p>Before Marcos rose to power in 2022, Abalos served as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman and as the 5-term mayor of Mandaluyong City.</p><p>Abalos got his history and political science degree from the De La Salle University and earned his Bachelor of Laws from the Ateneo de Manila University. </p><div><em>More details to follow. </em></div><div><em><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5VDjRPX3GLg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XIMYBKeoOoE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></em><br/></div>

<p>Former DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary, Malacanang confirmed Wednesday.</p>

Former DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary, Malacanang confirmed Wednesday.

Benhur Abalos named Cabinet Secretary — Palace

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Benhur Abalos named Cabinet Secretary — Palace

Jervis Manahan,

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 08, 2026 02:05 PM PHT

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Updated July 08, 2026 02:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Benhur Abalos

DILG

Cabinet Secretary

Marcos Cabinet

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