Angeles City mayor, 33 barangay captains endorse Abalos’ Senate run
Benhur Abalos in Pampanga
ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – Alyansa Para sa Pagbabago senatorial candidate Atty. Benhur Abalos Jr. received a significant boost to his Senate campaign with the endorsement of Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. and all 33 barangay captains of the city.
During a gathering held at Angeles City Hall, Mayor Lazatin formally pledged his support for Abalos, committing to assist him in securing a Senate seat. Lazatin’s endorsement was echoed by the city’s 33 barangay captains, who also expressed their confidence in Abalos’ capacity to deliver genuine and effective leadership.
Benhur Abalos during his sortie in Pampanga
In response, Abalos expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Lazatin and the barangay captains, promising to repay their trust with dedicated service and effective leadership if elected to the Senate.
As Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Abalos supervised all LGUs in the country.
Under his leadership at the DILG, the Philippine National Police (PNP) seized P33.8 billion worth of illegal drugs during the first two years of the Marcos administration—the highest recorded under any administration.
Abalos also spearheaded initiatives aimed at rehabilitating persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) by facilitating skills training programs in collaboration with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
He was instrumental in the arrest of high-profile personalities, including Apollo Quiboloy, Alice Guo, and child trafficker Teddy Jay Mejia. Additionally, he oversaw the successful integration of 396 former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as official members of the PNP—a significant step toward lasting peace and national unity.
Abalos also prioritized enhancing public safety through the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), ensuring that all cities and municipalities were equipped with functional fire trucks and stations.
As DILG secretary, Abalos presided over the historic casting of votes by persons deprived of liberty during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, promoting inclusive participation in the democratic process.
Now running for a Senate seat, Abalos seeks to continue his advocacy for good governance and effective service delivery. Among his legislative priorities are amending the Local Government Code of the Philippines to improve the delivery of basic services, ensuring that local governments are more responsive to the needs of their constituents.
Earlier, Drilon received endorsements from former Senate President Franklin Drilon, the Liga ng Barangay sa Pilipinas, the Philippine Councilor’s League, the Vice Mayors’ League, and several local government units.
