PRESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will appoint his campaign manager Benhur Abalos as his next secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Speaking to reporters in Mandaluyong City on Friday, Victor Rodriguez, spokesman for Marcos, said Abalos accepted the presidentelect’s offer to head the DILG.

“I would also like to announce that Chairman Benhur Abalos has been nominated to lead the Department of the Interior [and Local Government], and he has accepted the challenge to lead the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” Rodriguez also said during a news briefing.

Abalos is a former mayor of Mandaluyong City and former chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority before joining Marcos’ campaign team.

He is the second person to join the incoming Cabinet of Marcos, after the latter announced that his running mate, Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio, would serve as his next Education chief.

In the same news briefing, Rodriguez disowned a supposed list of prospective Cabinet members that has been circulating on social media.

Among the rumored appointments are Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta for Justice secretary and retired professor Clarita Carlos for Foreign Affairs chief.

“There’s no truth to that apparent list. Walang listahan (There is no such list). The only two names we have announced by far is that of Vice President-elect Inday Sara Duterte for the Department of Education and just now, I am announcing the nomination of Chairman Benhur Abalos to lead the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” Rodriguez said.

He added that the Marcos camp is looking for a Cabinet member who will be competent enough to serve the public, has love for the country, respects the Constitution and who is not involved in any plans to overthrow the government.

Marcos earlier said he would pick Cabinet members based on competence and willingness to work with the next administration, no matter the “political leaning.”

“We’re in the process of searching and looking up for possible nominees for different Cabinet positions. I don’t think anyone should expect that it can be announced in one sitting because as you know the vetting process takes time and appointing and nominating someone, it’s not a one-way thing, it has to be accepted and it has to be offered,” Rodriguez said.

“Titingnan natin ‘yung kanilang (We will look at their) qualifications and competence. But I think to be safe, there will be new faces that will comprise the incoming President-elect Bongbong’s Cabinet,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez said he, Abalos, former Davao del Norte congressman Anton Lagdameo, South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. and former Manila lawmaker Nadia Angping will lead Marcos’ transition team.

“The campaign executive committee will serve as the transition team and for the names of the transition team, it is to be led by yours truly,” he added.

“These are the names that I am at liberty to reveal at the moment, but this is the composition of our transition team,” Rodriguez said.