HIGHER CALLING
ALL signs are out that Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. will be seeking a Senate seat in the May 12, 2025 mid-term elections.
Just read or listen to this “political ad” being played on television and the social media:
“Yung maraming nagkatrabaho dahil best ang skills trading sa Mandaluyong, si Abalos ‘yan. ‘Yung tuluyang pag-angat ng buhay ng mahihirap dahil sa maayos na pamamahala, si Abalos ‘yan.
‘Yung hinirang na economic tiger ang Mandaluyong, si Abalos ‘yan. ‘Yung galing ng pamumuno na kinilala ng United Nations, si Abalos ‘yan. Mayor ng Mandaluyong noon, DILG secretary ngayon, si Abalos ‘yan. Gawa hindi salita.”
Attorney Abalos’ tarpaulins have also sprouted in major highways and other thoroughfares.
Two weeks ago, leaders of political parties allied with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration mentioned the name of Sec. Abalos as among those being considered to be part of the administration’s Senate slot for the 2025 elections.
The name of the DILG chief was mentioned by stalwarts from the President’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the Nacionalista Party and the National Unity Party.
The President’s sister Senator Imee Marcos and Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers also revealed that Sec. Abalos most likely will be included in the administration’s Senate line-up.
The question now is who will replace him as the DILG’s top honcho?
As the Commission on Elections has declared October 1 to 8 as the period for the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy for the 2025 mid-term polls, Sec. Abalos is expected to leave the DILG to concentrate on his campaign from February 11, 2025 to May 10, 2025.
The rumor mill at Camp Crame says that a number of possible candidate for the top DILG post are already being eyed by President Marcos Jr. in the event of Sec. Abalos’ official candidacy.
Two names mentioned were that of the 80-year-old Batangas Governor Herminaldo ‘Dodo’ Mandanas and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who used to be a DILG chief during the Duterte administration.
Sec. Abalos however has not mentioned any Senate plan up to these days.
Instead, he continues to concentrate on his job as the DILG chief which has supervision over all Local Government Units, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
He is also the concurrent chairman of the National Police Commission.
On Saturday, he urged anew fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to surrender and face the criminal charges for child abuse and trafficking cases he is facing.
The PNP headed by General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil maintained it will not cease its operation inside the KOJC compound until every corner of the 30-hectare facility is searched.
“Please naman, nanawagan ako at ito na pananawagan ng lahat, sumuko ka na. Dahil klaro naman ang sinasabi mo, you are deemed to be innocent until your guilt is proven in court. Pero may warrant tayo eh. At ang warrant niyan is People of the Philippines v. Apollo Quiboloy.
“‘Yung sinasabi mo walang ka kasalanan, may proseso diyan at yan ay sa korte. Sumuko ka na at harapin mo ang mga akusasyon. ‘Yan ang sa akin, sumuko ka na,” the DILG secretary said.
This as Quiboloy’s chief legal counsel Israelito Torreon made an impossible demand which is for President Marcos to sign a written declaration that the self-proclaimed ‘Son of God’ won’t be brought to the United States where he is also facing a string of criminal charges.
Torreon claimed there is a threat to Quiboloy’s life as he faces possible “extraordinary rendition” or a state-backed kidnapping — to the U.S. although he and Quiboloy have failed to provide evidence to back up their claims of a conspiracy between the U.S. and the Philippine government to bring the fugitive pastor to America for trial.
President Marcos dismissed Quboloy’s condition for his surrender as the “tail wagging the dog” or an attempt to dictate on the government.
Gen. Marbil and Police Regional Office 11 director Brigadier Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III are daily briefing Sec. Abalos on the progress of their operations in Davao City.
“Pagod na pagod ng mga kapulisan, dami ng hamon ng sumampal sa kapulisan anAd yet we are persistent in capturing Pastor Quiboloy,” Abalos said.
PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean S. Fajardo said she was informed by Brigadier General Torre that as of Friday morning, they have only inspected close to 50 percent of the compound with more buildings yet to be searched.
However, she said officers are concentrating their search on areas where signs of human life, particularly heartbeats have been detected.
“Some of you might be wondering bakit napakatagal ng search but we are looking at an underground facility made of thick stones and thick metals, an underground facility built to withstand any man-made calamity or disaster. It’s really taking time to really penetrate the underground facility but we won’t mention any specific areas so as not to telegraph our punches,” Col. Fajardo said.