MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Interior and Local Government chief Benjamin Abalos Jr. as Cabinet secretary, Malacañang announced on Wednesday.
Abalos’ new designation came more than a year after the appointment ban for candidates who lost in the 2025 midterm elections lapsed.
Among his responsibilities would be to assist Marcos “by providing timely, relevant, and strategic advice on emerging national, local, and international issues affecting the political landscape,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro noted.
Abalos, as may be directed by the president, may also “serve as a conduit of the president to national government agencies, local government units, political organizations, groups or parties, civil society organizations, and sectoral groups on matters of political concern, and also serve as head of strategic action and response office, and for this purpose exercise supervision and control over its constituent offices.”
