Former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos officially took his oath as Cabinet Secretary on Wednesday, July 8.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administered Abalos' oath of office during a ceremony held at Malacañang Palace.
This marks the former DILG chief's return to the Cabinet more than a year after stepping down from his previous post to seek a Senate seat in the 2025 national elections.
The appointment was confirmed on Wednesday by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, who said Abalos would immediately take his oath of office.
The confirmation came shortly after Castro had denied reports during the regular Malacañang press briefing that Abalos was set to be sworn in as Cabinet Secretary.
Abalos served as DILG secretary from 2022 until 2024 before resigning to pursue a Senate bid in the 2025 midterm elections.
Following his unsuccessful Senate campaign, he has now returned to government service as Cabinet Secretary.
During the same ceremony, Marcos also administered the oath of Cebuano businessman and former Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) chair Philip Lo as the new Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.
According to a report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Lo was the third-largest donor to Marcos Jr.'s 2022 presidential campaign, contributing P25 million to support his candidacy.
(Photo courtesy: Office of the President)
Also sworn into office was law professor Nesauro Firme, who took his oath as a member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) representing the academe.
This will be Firme's second term with the JBC. He was first appointed by the President to the council on July 11, 2022.
(Photo courtesy: Office of the President)
