Abalos was the coordinator for the 17 mayors of Metro Manila to convey their pandemic policy recommendations to the national government

MANILA, Philippines – The chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Benhur Abalos, has resigned from his post, he announced on Monday, February 7.

Abalos, whose father’s political career took off after the EDSA uprising in 1986, will serve as national campaign manager for Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is aiming for the presidency in 2022.

“I respectfully tender my resignation effective the end of office hours on February 7, 2022,” Abalos wrote in a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte, which he read at a press conference. “I will have to devote my time to [former] campaign of Senator Bongbong Marcos as national campaign manager.

In 2016, Marcos’ camp also tapped Abalos as campaign manager for Metro Manila for the then-late dictator’s son’s vice presidential bid, which turned out to be unsuccessful.

Benhur Abalos’ father, Benjamin Abalos Sr., was appointed Officer in Charge of Mandaluyong in 1986 by then President Corazon Aquino shortly after Marcos Sr. was ousted from office.

Legacy in MMDA

Abalos began serving in the MMDA in January 2021, succeeding retired General Danny Lim, who died earlier the same month.

As head of the MMDA, Abalos was highly visible in the media, frequently holding press conferences on decisions of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the decision-making body of the MMDA.

As chairman of the MMC, he served as a coordinator for Metro Manila’s 17 mayors in conveying their pandemic policy recommendations to the Philippine government’s coronavirus task force.

MMDA chief executive Romando Artes will be in charge of the agency after Abalos resigns, the former mayor of Mandaluyong said. – Rappler.com