Benjamin Abalos

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.

Benjamin Abalos Sr.
Chairman of the Commission on Elections
In office June 5, 2002 – October 1, 2007
Appointed by	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded by	Alfredo Benipayo
Succeeded by	Resurreccion Borra
Chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
In office January 20, 2001 – June 5, 2002
President	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded by	Jejomar Binay
Succeeded by	Bayani Fernando
Mayor of Mandaluyong
In office June 30, 1988 – June 30, 1998
Preceded by	Roman delos Reyes (Officer In-Charge)
Succeeded by	Benjamin Abalos, Jr.
Officer In-Charge Mayor of Mandaluyong
In office 1986–1987
Preceded by	Ernesto Domingo
Succeeded by	Roman delos Reyes (Officer In-Charge)
Personal details
Born	Benjamin Santos Abalos (1935-09-21) September 21, 1935 Pangasinan, Philippine Islands
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Lakas Kampi CMD
Other political affiliations	Lakas CMD (1992–2009) LDP (before 1992)
Spouse	Corazon de Castro
Children	4 (including Benjamin Jr.)
Residence(s)	Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Alma mater	Manuel L. Quezon University
Occupation	Judge
Profession	Lawyer

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 Metro Manila Development Authority chairman and former Mandaluyong mayor Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr..

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 (MLQU) in 1957. 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. After his initial attempt to enter politics, Abalos served as a Trial Court Judge wherein he gained the distinction of being named as outstanding judge for 10 straight years.

He ran for Mandaluyong mayor in 1980, losing to the candidate of former Philippine Dictator 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.

Abalos was a former member of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) 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 (MMDA), a post he held until the following year.

Chairman of COMELEC

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

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 ZTE national broadband network (NBN) deal. It was endorsed by Representatives Teofisto Guingona III of Bukidnon and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna (People First), and Zamboanga City Representative Ma. Isabelle Climaco. Affidavits from Romulo Neri and Jose de Venecia III supported the complaint. On October 1, 2007, Abalos resigned during a press conference. The Commission on Elections appointed Resurreccion Borra as Acting Chairman.

Personal life

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

See also

• Commission on Elections (Philippines)