Benjamin Santos Abalos Sr. (born September 21, 1934) is a
Filipino
Filipino may refer to:
* Something from or related to the Philippines
** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines.
** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...
politician who currently serves as the mayor of
Mandaluyong
Mandaluyong, officially the City of Mandaluyong ( fil, Lungsod ng Mandaluyong), is a first class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 425,758 people.
Loca ...
,
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila (often shortened as Metro Manila; fil, Kalakhang Maynila), officially the National Capital Region (NCR; fil, link=no, Pambansang Punong Rehiyon), is the seat of government and one of three defined metropolitan areas in ...
since 2022, a position he also held from 1986 to 1987 and from 1988 to 1998. He also served as a chairman of the
Commission on Elections
An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
and chairman of the
MMDA. He is the father of former Mandaluyong mayor and
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr.
Early life
Abalos was born into a poor family in Pangasinan on September 21, 1934. He studied Economics at
Ateneo de Manila University
, mottoeng = Light in the Lord
, type = Private, research, non-profit, coeducational basic and higher education institution
, established = December 10, 1859
, religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic ( Jesuits)
, academic ...
and graduated from the
Manuel L. Quezon University in 1957. Abalos was admitted to the roll of attorneys of the Supreme Court in 1958 and then into the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines ( fil, Pinagsamang mga Abogasya ng Pilipinas abbreviated as IBP) is the national organization of lawyers in the Philippines. It is the mandatory bar association for Filipino lawyers.
History
The IBP was estab ...
in 1973. Abalos supported himself through college by taking several jobs, working as a janitor, factory worker, and a caddy at the
Wack Wack Golf and Country Club
Wack Wack Golf and Country Club is a golf course and country club resort complex located in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.
The complex features two 18-hole championship courses, landscaped terrains, gardens and villas.
History
Wack Wac ...
.
Political career
In 1963, Abalos ran for vice mayor of Mandaluyong, which was then a municipality of
Rizal, and lost to the scion of a political family.
He ran for Mandaluyong mayor in 1980, losing to the candidate of former President
Ferdinand Marcos. In 1986, shortly after Marcos was ousted through a popular uprising, President
Corazon Aquino appointed him as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the then municipality of Mandaluyong.
As OIC of the town, he ran for the post of mayor and won in the local elections of 1988, the first local elections under the 1987 Constitution. He was re-elected two times in the elections of 1992 and 1995, making him one of the two Aquino OIC appointees who survived and secured the constitution-mandated three consecutive terms limit for local officials. Abalos made Mandaluyong's cityhood in 1994. In 1998, Abalos ran for congressman but lost to
Neptali Gonzales II
Neptali "Boyet" Medina Gonzales II (born August 29, 1954) is a Filipino politician serving as the Representative of Mandaluyong's Lone District since 2019, and previously in the 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th Congress. He was also o ...
.
Abalos was a former member of the
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino later joining the then newly formed Lakas NUCD-CMD.
Chairman of MMDA
On January 20, 2001, Abalos was appointed
chairman of the
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA; fil, Pangasiwaan sa Pagpapaunlad ng Kalakhang Maynila) is a government agency of the Philippines responsible for constituting the regional government of Metro Manila, comprising the capital ...
, a post he held until the following year.
Chairman of COMELEC
On June 5, 2002, President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...
appointed Abalos to replace Alfredo Benipayo after the latter failed to secure the confirmation of his appointment from the
Commission on Appointments
The Commission on Appointments ( fil, Komisyon sa Paghirang, abbreviated as CA) is a constitutional body which confirms or rejects certain political appointments made by the President of the Philippines. The current commission was created by th ...
.
Impeachment complaint
On September 27, 2007,
Iloilo
Iloilo (), officially the Province of Iloilo ( hil, Kapuoran sang Iloilo; krj, Kapuoran kang Iloilo; tl, Lalawigan ng Iloilo), is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is the City of Iloilo, the ...
Vice Governor Rolex Suplico filed a 64-page impeachment complaint against Abalos, in his capacity as Commission on Elections Chairman, before the
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines ( fil, Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ng Pilipinas, italic=unset, ''Kamara'' or ''Kamara de Representantes'' from the Spanish word ''cámara'', meaning "chamber") is the lower house of Congress, the ...
regarding the
NBN–ZTE deal corruption scandal. It was endorsed by Representatives
Teofisto Guingona III
Teofisto "TG" de Lara Guingona III (), or more commonly known as "TG" is a lawyer and the son of former Vice President Teofisto "Tito" Guingona, Jr. He was a Congressman of the 2nd District of Bukidnon during the 13th and 14th Congress from 20 ...
(
Bukidnon–2nd),
Teodoro Casiño (
Bayan Muna
Bayan Muna () is a party-list in the Philippines, a member of the leftist political coalition Makabayan. The motto of the party is ''"New Politics, the Politics of Change"'', against "traditional, elitist, pro-imperialist politics". Its platform i ...
), and Representative
Ma. Isabelle Climaco (
Zamboanga City–1st).
Affidavits
An ( ; Medieval Latin for "he has declared under oath") is a written statement voluntarily made by an ''affiant'' or '' deponent'' under an oath or affirmation which is administered by a person who is authorized to do so by law. Such a statemen ...
from
Romulo Neri and
Jose de Venecia III supported the complaint. On October 1, 2007, Abalos resigned during a press conference; and
Resurreccion Borra would be appointed as Acting Chairman.
Return as Mayor of Mandaluyong
Abalos ran for mayor of Mandaluyong in
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretariat; The global monkeypo ...
under
PDP-Laban, with his daughter-in-law, incumbent mayor
Menchie Abalos, as his running mate for vice mayor. He said that he would run to fulfill his promise to his deceased wife that he would spend his remaining years serving the people of Mandaluyong. He won the elections in a landslide victory, securing a comeback as mayor after 24 years.
Personal life
He married Corazon de Castro in 1960 with whom he has five children, including
Benjamin Abalos Jr.
Benjamin "Benhur" de Castro Abalos Jr. (born July 19, 1962) is a Filipino lawyer and politician serving as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government since 2022. Before his appointment as DILG secretary, he last served as the Chairman of ...
, the incumbent
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government
The secretary of the interior and local government (Filipino: ''Kalihim ng Interyor at Pamahalaang Lokal'') is the member of the Cabinet in charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The current secretary is Benjamin Abalos ...
who also served as mayor of Mandaluyong and
Metro Manila Development Authority
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA; fil, Pangasiwaan sa Pagpapaunlad ng Kalakhang Maynila) is a government agency of the Philippines responsible for constituting the regional government of Metro Manila, comprising the capital ...
chairman. His wife died on January 25, 2021 due to
severe sepsis, secondary to
pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severi ...
caused by
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abalos, Benjamin
1934 births
Living people
People from Pangasinan
Chairpersons of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
Mayors of Mandaluyong
PDP–Laban politicians
Lakas–CMD (1991) politicians
Chairpersons of the Commission on Elections of the Philippines
Arroyo administration personnel
Ateneo de Manila University alumni
Manuel L. Quezon University alumni