Abalos quits MMDA to serve as Bongbong campaign manager

MANILA, Philippines — Benhur Abalos, among those who have been spearheading the country’s fight against COVID-19 in the National Capital Region (NCR) for more than a year, yesterday announced his resignation as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Abalos said he is joining the camp of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the presidential candidate’s national campaign manager for the May 9 general elections.

“I would like to announce that I am resigning as MMDA chairman effective the end of business hours of Feb. 7, 2022. I have submitted my resignation letter to the President. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the Filipino people as MMDA chair,” Abalos said during an early morning press briefing.

For Abalos, the fast-approaching campaign period will require him to devote his time to Marcos’ bid for the presidency.

“While I am extremely saddened by this, I wish the agency success in its every program, project and initiative for the betterment of the metropolis,” Abalos said.

“Again, I am very grateful. COVID may be over, Benhur Abalos is now signing off as MMDA chairman. Thank you,” he added, while praising and thanking President Duterte for the opportunity to serve under his administration.

Asked why he chose to support Marcos, Abalos said he is really friends with the former senator and was also the latter’s campaign manager in his 2016 vice presidential bid.

“BBM is my friend. He is a very kind person,” he said, using the popular acronym of Marcos’ name.

Abalos also acknowledged that individuals have their choices in exercising their rights to pick leaders.

“But at the end of everything, we must unite as a country, as a people. I am for BBM, I believe in him, he is a kind person,” Abalos said in English and Filipino.

He added that he visited Malacañang and submitted his resignation letter to Duterte last Friday while making sure that he is not leaving the MMDA in disarray or without a clear direction.

Abalos said he is confident that agency officials led by general manager Romando Artes can lead the MMDA as the NCR and the country slowly enter the exit stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although Abalos personally believes that it will be best if the next MMDA chief will come from within the agency, he noted that it is now up to Duterte to choose who will replace him.

Abalos said he is thankful to Metro Manila’s mayors, his fellow officials at the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) against COVID-19, the country’s medical experts, barangays and all those who helped steer Metro Manila toward winning the war against COVID-19 during his term as the agency’s “pandemic chairman.”

Huge addition

The UniTeam said Abalos is a huge addition to its campaign, and his role as national campaign manager is crucial in leading Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Marcos and vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to victory.

“(Abalos’) sensible and wise leadership experience would play a big factor in leading the UniTeam to its desired victory, which consequently would be a win for the Filipino people,” the UniTeam said in a statement.

Abalos stressed that as the May 9 elections draw near, he would need to devote his time as the UniTeam’s national campaign manager.

“I decided to join the BBM-Sara UniTeam because I genuinely believe in the unifying leadership espoused by our presidential aspirant… and his running mate… It’s what we really need, especially that we are emerging from a pandemic,” he said.

“I have known Bongbong for a long time, and I know that he has the experience and the capability to make things better for our country. Among the presidential aspirants, I find his unifying message as sincere and necessary in leading the country towards the road to progress and sustainable development,” he added.

Abalos is cited for successfully unifying Metro Manila mayors behind the government’s COVID-19 response, particularly in crafting safety protocols and rollout of the vaccination program.

TikTok account identified

Amid these developments, the TikTok account used by a person accused of plotting to kill Marcos has been identified by investigators, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

At a press briefing, PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said investigators are on the user’s digital trail and are expected to identify the person.

“Tracing his digital trail is continuous and then, the eventual identification. After that, the filing of charges and then issuance of arrest warrant and then the tracker team gets the person responsible for this kind of threat,” Carlos told reporters.

Police and the Department of Justice (DOJ) had earlier said they were validating reports of an alleged plot to kill Marcos that was reportedly seen on short-form video platform TikTok.

The DOJ’s Office of Cybercrime said it received an online tip about the post in question on social media, in which a user supposedly posted a comment about an assassination plot against Marcos.

The National Bureau of Investigation was tasked to work on the case by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, saying they are checking the report because “if a bomb joke is actionable, so is a threat of assassination, whether true or not.”

Carlos said they have yet to determine whether the person who posted the comment had the capability to kill a presidential candidate, but said the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) would be working toward gathering evidence to make sure charges can be filed against the person.

Meanwhile, the ACG assured the public that the PNP remains a “non-partisan organization and has no involvement or interest whatsoever in any political affairs involving our poll bets.”

“When we receive reports and complaints, we investigate and validate to check its truthfulness and accuracy. We gather evidence/s and facts and if warranted, we pursue the filing of appropriate complaints in the proper courts. Such is always the case,” the ACG said in a statement.

Groups back BBM

Various transport groups, socio-civic and political organizations on Sunday committed their support for Marcos, his lawyer-spokesman and chief of staff Vic Rodriguez said yesterday.

Rodriguez, guest speaker at the meeting of the various groups held in Pasig City last Sunday, welcomed their endeavor, which he said was in line with Marcos’ unifying leadership.

“I have with me the message of unity of presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos. He wants to unite all the Filipino people. He said that he cannot fulfill his plans for the economic development of the country (without) most important ingredient, the unity of the Filipino people,” Rodriguez said.

To signify their commitment, the leaders of the groups signed a manifesto of support for Marcos’ candidacy.

Among the groups that attended the meeting, organized by Col. Erik Bautista, former head of the Makati Public Safety Department, included leaders of MATRIFED, an association of tricycle drivers; the United Transport Federation of Makati, a jeepney association; Pedicab Association; Knight Riders Nation and market vendors association.

Also present were heads of the Alpha Phi Omega Makati Chapter, Tau Gamma Phi Makati Chapter, Alpha Kappa Rho Makati Chapter, Guardians Makati Chapter, ASAP Makati Chapter and the Lex Leonum Fraternitas, a group of volunteer lawyers for Marcos. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Neil Jayson Servallos, Gilbert Bayoran