Former Interior Chief Benhur Abalos has returned to Malacañang after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revived the position of Cabinet Secretary, a role that was abolished at the start of his presidency.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro announced the appointment on Wednesday, July 8, stating that Abalos will take on the position effective immediately.
Abalos previously led the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) from 2022 to 2024. He resigned to run for the Senate in the May 2025 midterm elections, where he fell short of a seat, finishing in 16th place.
As Cabinet Secretary, Abalos will step in as a key advisor on governance and political matters.
Castro explained that his responsibilities include the mandate to “assist the President by providing timely, relevant, and strategic advice on emerging national, local, and international issues affecting the political landscape.”
Furthermore, Abalos will act as a vital liaison linking the Office of the President with local government units, state agencies, political coalitions, and civil society groups. He will also head the Strategic Action and Response Office.
President Marcos has frequently voiced his intention to retain Abalos in the administration, often praising him as a top-performing official and expressing a strong desire to have him “play a more active role in government.”
An experienced public servant, Abalos served as the chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from 2021 to 2022 and was a long-time mayor of Mandaluyong City between 1998 and 2016. During his tenure at the DILG, he spearheaded major programs centered on anti-narcotics, law enforcement, and local government reforms.