LAST year, Benjamin 'Benhur' Abalos Jr. was appointed as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could not have chosen a better person for that sensitive portfolio. At age 60, Benhur has shown that he is a public servant par excellence; he gives politicians a good name.

He began his career in public service as a city councilor of Mandaluyong from 1995 to 1998, after which he was expected to run for city mayor. Instead, he launched his candidacy for the House of Representatives for the lone district of Mandaluyong. He was a lawmaker from 2004 to 2007. Then, Benhur left the halls of Congress and ran for city mayor; he was the hizzoner of Mandaluyong City for five terms, from 1998 to 2004; 2007 to 2016.