Benjamin Abalos

Benjamin Santos Abalos Sr. (born September 21, 1935) is a Filipino politician who served as a former chairman of the Commission on Elections. He was also a former chairman of the MMDA and mayor of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. He is the father of former Mandaluyong mayor and Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr.

For his son, also a politician, see Benjamin Abalos, Jr.
In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Santos and the surname or paternal family name is Abalos.
The Honorable
Benjamin Abalos Sr.
Abalos in 2007
Chairman of the Commission on Elections
In office
June 5, 2002 – October 1, 2007
Appointed byGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byAlfredo Benipayo
Succeeded byResurreccion Borra
Chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
In office
January 20, 2001 – June 5, 2002
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byJejomar Binay
Succeeded byBayani Fernando
Mayor of Mandaluyong
In office
June 30, 1988 – June 30, 1998
Preceded byRoman delos Reyes (OIC)
Succeeded byBenjamin Abalos, Jr.
In office
1986–1987
Officer in Charge
Preceded byErnesto Domingo
Succeeded byRoman delos Reyes (OIC)
Personal details
Born
Benjamin Santos Abalos

(1935-09-21) September 21, 1935
Pangasinan, Philippine Islands
NationalityFilipino
Political partyPDP–Laban
Other political
affiliations		Lakas CMD (1992–2009)
LDP (before 1992)
Spouse(s)
Corazon de Castro
​
​
(m. 1960; died 2021)​
Children5 (including Benjamin Jr.)
Residence(s)Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
EducationAteneo de Manila University
Manuel L. Quezon University
OccupationJudge
ProfessionLawyer (Roll No. 13150

Early life

Abalos was born into a poor family in Pangasinan on September 21, 1935. He studied Economics at Ateneo de Manila University 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 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.

Political career

In 1963, Abalos ran for vice mayor of Mandaluyong, which was then part 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.

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, a post he held until the following year.

Chairman of COMELEC

On June 5, 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Abalos to replace Alfredo Benipayo after the latter failed to secure the confirmation of his appointment from the Commission on Appointments.

Impeachment complaint

On September 27, 2007, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico filed a 64-page impeachment complaint against Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr. before the House of Representatives of the Philippines regarding the NBN–ZTE deal corruption scandal. It was endorsed by Representatives Teofisto Guingona III of Bukidnon and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna, and Zamboanga City Representative Ma. Isabelle Climaco. Affidavits from Romulo Neri and Jose de Venecia III supported the complaint.[1][2] On October 1, 2007, Abalos resigned during a press conference. The Commission on Elections appointed Resurreccion Borra as Acting Chairman.[3]

2022 comeback bid

Abalos is running for mayor of Mandaluyong in 2022 under PDP-Laban, with his daughter-in-law, incumbent mayor Menchie Abalos, as his running mate for vice mayor.[4] 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.[5]

Personal life

He married Corazon de Castro in 1960 with whom he has five children, including Metro Manila Development Authority chairman and former Mandaluyong mayor Benjamin Abalos, Jr.[6] His wife died on January 25, 2021 due to severe sepsis, secondary to pneumonia caused by COVID-19.[7]

References
  1. "Impeachment raps filed vs Abalos at House by Iloilo vice gov". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  2. "Impeachment raps filed vs Abalos over ZTE controversy". September 27, 2007.
  3. WSJ, Philippine Voting Chief Quits Amid Bribe Queries
  4. "Certified List of Candidates (Mandaluyong)" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  5. Mendoza, John Eric (October 6, 2021). "Ex-Comelec chair Ben Abalos Sr. files candidacy for mayor in Mandaluyong". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  6. "Charisse Abalos marks what would've been her grandparents' 61st wedding anniversary". Politiko Metro Manila. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  7. "Abalos family matriarch Corazon dies after contracting COVID-19". ABS-CBN News. January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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