Benhur Abalos

Benjamin Abalos Jr.
Born	Benjamin de Castro Abalos Jr. (1962-07-19) July 19, 1962 Philippines
Other names	Benhur
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, politician, racehorse breeder
Years active	1995–present
Known for	Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (2022–2024), Chairman of MMDA (2021–2022), Mayor of Mandaluyong

Benjamin "Benhur" de Castro Abalos Jr. (born July 19, 1962) is a Filipino lawyer, politician, and racehorse breeder who held the position of Secretary of the Interior and Local Government from 2022 until 2024 under President Bongbong Marcos’s administration. Prior to this, he served as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) during the Duterte presidency from 2021 to 2022. In Mandaluyong, he occupied various roles including mayor (1998–2004, 2007–2016), representative (2004–2007), and councilor (1995–1998). His father, Benjamin Abalos Sr., also notably served as COMELEC chairman, Mandaluyong mayor, and MMDA chairman.

Early life and education

Abalos is the second oldest among five siblings born to Benjamin Abalos and Corazon de Castro. His grandmother gave him the nickname inspired by the fictional character Judah Ben-Hur. He completed his elementary and secondary schooling at Don Bosco Technical College in 1979. He then attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from De La Salle University in 1982, followed by a Bachelor of Laws degree from Ateneo de Manila University in 1987. During his law studies, he was active in the Student Council and successfully passed the bar examination in 1988.

People's Law Enforcement Board; Mandaluyong City Councilor (1995–1998)

In the early 1990s, Abalos was part of Mandaluyong’s People's Law Enforcement Board (PLEB), which supervised police conduct locally. He was elected as councilor representing Mandaluyong’s 1st district from 1995 to 1998, where he chaired the Committee on Laws, Peace & Order and Public Safety. Additionally, he contributed to committees focused on Angara Affairs as well as Livelihood and Cooperatives.

Mayor of Mandaluyong (1998–2004)

Abalos succeeded his father Benjamin Abalos as mayor in 1998. Within a single term, he was instrumental in transforming Mandaluyong into what became known as the "Tiger City of the Philippines." He won re-election in 2001 and continued serving as mayor until 2004.

Congressman for Mandaluyong’s Lone District (2004–2007)

In 2004, Abalos exchanged roles with his ally Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, taking office as Mandaluyong’s lone representative in the House of Representatives until 2007. Throughout this period, he authored 25 bills and co-authored another 54, including championing the largest budget ever allotted to the Philippine Sports Commission. He was also the principal author of Republic Act No. 9397, which amended provisions of the Urban Development Housing Act of 1992.

Mayor of Mandaluyong (2007–2016)

Abalos reclaimed the mayoralty in 2007 by switching positions again with Neptali Gonzales II. He secured subsequent re-elections in both 2010 and 2013.

During this phase, he made history by simultaneously presiding over two major national bodies: the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), representing approximately 1.2 million local officials nationwide, and the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), consisting of all 122 city mayors. Notably, he was the first mayor to lead ULAP, which had traditionally been headed by provincial governors. He remained Mandaluyong’s chief executive until his term ended in 2016.

Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (2021–2022)

Designated by President Rodrigo Duterte on January 11, 2021, Abalos took over the chairmanship of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from Danilo Lim. His tenure coincided with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he applied governance strategies honed from his experience as a mayor. In his capacity as MMDA chairman, he was responsible for directing Metro Manila’s urban development and public service functions in accordance with Republic Act No. 7924. Additionally, he led the Regional Development Council for the National Capital Region and served as head of the Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s primary policy-making entity.

Abalos stepped down on February 7, 2022, to assume the role of national campaign manager for presidential contender Bongbong Marcos, just prior to the commencement of the official election campaign period.

Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (2022–2024)

On May 13, 2022, Victor Rodriguez, spokesperson for presumptive president Bongbong Marcos, declared that Abalos had accepted Marcos’s offer to serve as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. This announcement came following Marcos's victory in the 2022 presidential race.

Abalos committed to utilizing his extensive political background to steer the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), focusing on its mandate to foster peace, order, and cooperation among local government units. Among his notable accomplishments were integrating former Moro rebels into the Philippine National Police ranks and launching the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) initiative, which resulted in a sevenfold increase in drug seizures compared to earlier administrations.

During his term as DILG Secretary, Abalos also co-hosted the radio program DILG sa DZRH Breaktime broadcasted on both DZRH and DZRH News Television.

On September 26, 2024, Abalos was included in the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial lineup for the 2025 Philippine senate election. Following his candidacy filing on October 7, he officially resigned from his DILG post. He was succeeded by Governor Jonvic Remulla on October 8. In the election results, Abalos ranked 16th with a total of 11,580,520 votes.

Horse racing

Since 2004, Abalos has been actively involved in horse racing in the Philippines, beginning with his inaugural racehorse named Dandansoy. In 2005, he assumed leadership of the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners (MARHO) and was recognized as the seventh leading breeder. His horse Ibarra secured victories in two legs of the 2007 Triple Crown series.

By 2012, Abalos had achieved five wins in Philippine Triple Crown events with "Fire Down Under," one of twelve broodmares housed at Tiger Horse Farm located in Lipa, Batangas. His horse Hagdang Bato distinguished itself by becoming the first to capture the prestigious Crown since 1990.

In 2015, Abalos earned the title Breeder-Owner of the Year after horses such as Malaya and Hagdang Bato collectively won six trophies and amassed nearly in prize money. The awards were presented by Bienvenido Niles Jr., President of the Philippine Thoroughbred Breeders Association (Philtobo).

Abalos’ horses Kanlaon and Lakan claimed victory at the 2017 MARHO Breeders Championship, while Malaya triumphed in the MARHO Invitational Race that same year. In 2019, he collaborated with Atty. Narciso O. Morales to establish the Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc. (MMTCI).

His horse Heneral Kalentong achieved a Triple Crown win in 2020, earning substantial prize money. By 2021, Abalos Jr. ranked among the top ten breeders with an impressive total of 46 wins. Some prominent horses under his stable include Pinagtipunan (2016), The Glide (2017), Parisian Life (2023), Open Billing-Prime Billing (2023), and Batang Manda (2024).

On December 8, 2024, Abalos made history when his underdog bay colt "Batang Manda" secured victory at the 2024 Philracom-PCSO 52nd Presidential Gold Cup Race. The colt claimed a record-breaking share of , marking it as the largest purse ever awarded in Philippine horse racing history after completing a 2000-meter race in a time of 2:06.8.

Controversies

In 2001, Abalos was subjected to a graft complaint filed by the Ombudsman of the Philippines concerning alleged irregularities amounting to ₱1.8 billion in projects undertaken in Mandaluyong during his time as mayor. This case was dismissed on May 13, 2001, due to insufficient evidence; the Ombudsman acknowledged that Abalos had exercised proper diligence by establishing a special committee in 2000 to probe missing assets and funds.

In September 2024, Abalos faced criticism for what was seen as overly friendly behavior toward fugitive Alice Guo amid her deportation procedures in Indonesia. A photograph showing him alongside PNP chief Rommel Marbil in a private meeting with Guo drew negative public reaction, being perceived as poor public relations.

In October 2024, former President Rodrigo Duterte lodged a malicious mischief complaint against Abalos and several PNP officers connected to the two-week operation that led to Apollo Quiboloy’s arrest within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. By November, Abalos had submitted a counter-affidavit to the Department of Justice (Philippines), categorically denying all accusations.

Family

Since 1985, Abalos has been married to Carmelita "Menchie" Aguilar, currently serving as vice mayor of Mandaluyong. Their relationship began when she represented Cavite in Binibining Pilipinas. The couple has six children: twins Charisse Marie and Ciara Marie, Benjamin III, Charlene Marie, Maria Corazon, and Celine Marie. Tragically, Ciara Marie died in 2005 at age 19 from a bacterial infection.

Two of their children have pursued political careers: Charisse held the position of councilor for Mandaluyong's 1st district from 2013 to 2022, while Benjamin III has been councilor for the 2nd district since 2019. Additionally, Maria Corazon competed as a delegate in Miss Universe Philippines 2021.

Abalos is also related to politician Jonathan Clement Abalos, his nephew.

Health

Abalos was diagnosed with dyslexia during his youth and characterized himself as a slow learner. During the 2010s, he was found to have stage 1 colon cancer, which he attributed partly to stress resulting from his father’s incarceration over election-related charges. After undergoing early treatment and following his father’s acquittal, he was declared cancer-free. This personal health journey motivated his advocacy for early cancer screening and enhanced healthcare services throughout his term as DILG Secretary.

On July 25, 2020, Abalos tested positive for COVID-19 but experienced only mild symptoms. He credited his recovery in part to self-administered treatment with Lianhua Qingwen capsules provided by Bongbong Marcos. He again tested positive on October 10, 2022, this time as an asymptomatic carrier.

Filmography

On May 30, 2024, Abalos made a guest appearance in the GMA drama series Black Rider, reprising his role as the DILG secretary. The following month, he participated with his family on the game show Family Feud. Later in 2024, he took on the role of a lawyer in a guest spot on the GMA drama Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law. In January 2025, prior to the Philippine Senate election campaign, Abalos hosted the TV5 program Benhur Abalos: Stories of Tomorrow and also appeared as a guest in the GMA series Mga Batang Riles.

A television drama special titled Sa Gitna ng Unos, the Benhur Abalos Life Story was broadcast on GMA Network on February 1, 2025.