President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos to a newly restructured Cabinet Secretary position designed to prioritize direct, grassroots service delivery over traditional administrative duties.
In this recalibrated role, Abalos will act as the Chief Executive’s primary field representative.
His core objective is to link national government initiatives directly with local communities, ensuring that public services are distributed efficiently and responsively across the nation.
“Ang utos ni Presidente kay CabSec. Benhur ay siguraduhing nararamdaman at napapakinabangan ng bawat Pilipino ang mga serbisyo ng gobyerno,” said Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.
Malacañang stated that the appointment underscores the President’s prerogative to restructure executive functions to match his governance priorities.
Castro added that Abalos will travel throughout the country to coordinate with various Cabinet departments and swiftly address local grievances.
“CabSec Benhur’s appointment is the President’s way of redefining the CabSec position,” Castro noted.
The Palace clarified that this position is distinct from the former Office of the Cabinet Secretary, which was dissolved under Executive Order No. 1.
According to legal advisors from the Office of the Executive Secretary, a new executive order was unnecessary because the deployment aligns with the President’s constitutional appointing authority.
Furthermore, officials assured that Abalos’ mandate will not overlap with the functions of Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr.
This appointment marks the return of Abalos—who managed Marcos’ 2022 presidential campaign—to the Cabinet following his stint leading the Department of the Interior and Local Government.