Abalos tandem switches roles, throws hat in the ring for Mandaluyong execs anew

MANILA, Philippines — Incumbent Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos has formalized her run for vice mayor of the city, giving way to her father-in-law Benjamin Abalos Sr. to run for chief executive of Mandaluyong. 

The Abalos patriarch in a statement sent to reporters vowed to "usher the city to its healing, recovery, and the shift towards new normal – creating the perfect balance to protect the public health and revive the economy."

Menchie Abalos is the wife of Metro Manila Development Authority chair Benhur Abalos, himself a former mayor of Mandaluyong City. 

Under Mechie's leadership, the city government has administered over 450,000 first doses of coronavirus vaccines in the city as of Tuesday evening. 

She said she would decided to "take the back seat" to allow her father-in-law "to fulfill his promise to Mommy Cora" after the latter claimed he promised his late wife "to spend the remaining years of my life to serve the Mandaleños once again, in honor of" her.

Though she admitted that a possible vice mayor post was "a more limited and supplementary capacity," she expressed confidence in their "perfect tandem" and said she would assist the elder Abalos in his transition should the two be elected. 

"Mandaleños will still have a tried and tested kind of leadership," she said.

Abalos Sr., who was out of politics for the past 14 years, vowed that the COVID-19 response system initiated and institutionalized by his daughter-in-law will remain in place.

He served as the local chief of Mandaluyong for over a decade, from 1988 to 1998, before he was succeeded by his son Benhur. 

Corazon, the family matriarch, died of severe sepsis secondary to pneumonia due to COVID-19 on January 26. — Franco Luna