Benny Abante
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Bienvenido M. Abante | |
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Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
In office December 7, 2020 – June 1, 2022 | |
House Speaker | Lord Allan Velasco |
House Minority Leader | |
In office July 22, 2019 – October 16, 2020 | |
Preceded by | Danilo Suarez |
Succeeded by | Joseph Stephen Paduano |
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Manila's 6th District | |
Assumed office June 30, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Sandy Ocampo |
In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2010 | |
Preceded by | Mark Jimenez |
Succeeded by | Sandy Ocampo |
Member of the Manila City Council from the 6th District | |
In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Bienvenido Mirando Abante Jr. May 15, 1951 Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines |
Political party | NUP (2019–present) Asenso Manileño (2019–present) |
Other political affiliations | UNA (2012–2018) Lakas-Kampi-CMD (2008–2010) Lakas–CMD (before 2008) |
Spouse | Marie Paz Toledo (m. 1977) |
Alma mater | Far Eastern University Baptist Bible College Citadel Baptist College Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila |
Bienvenido "Benny" Mirando Abante Jr. (born May 15, 1951) is a Filipino politician and Bible Baptist pastor who is currently serving as the representative of Manila's 6th district since 2019, a position he previously held from 2004 to 2010. He also served as a House Deputy Speaker from 2020 to 2022, House Minority Leader from 2019 to 2020, and a councilor of Manila from the 6th district from 1992 to 1995.[1][2] He is also the host pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Ministries in Santa Ana, Manila.
Early life and education
Abante was born in the outskirts of Sampaloc, Manila on July 15, 1951, the eldest of four sons of the Rev. Ben O. Abante Sr. and Priscilla Mirando. He has two younger brothers, Jose Hernes and Reuben, who both grew up to be ministers.
He grew up taking on odd jobs such as shining shoes, selling newspapers and corsages and working on a construction site at a young age to support himself. He also worked in an accounting firm as an auditor to support his college education. He earned his bachelor's degree from Far Eastern University in 1971. He later graduated with a bachelor's and graduate degrees in theology at Citadel Baptist College in Sacramento, California and Baptist Bible College in Makati, respectively. He also holds a master's degree in Government Management from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.[citation needed]
Career
In 1975, he started the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Ministries in Santa Ana, Manila. He is also in the academe, having been named as the president of Metropolitan Lighthouse Theological School and Institute in Quezon City and administrator of the Metropolitan International Christian Academy in Manila in 1985. He was conferred a honorary degree in theology at Citadel Baptist College in 1985 and honorary doctor of theology at Indianapolis Baptist College in 1987.
In 1986, he founded the Bible Believers League for Morality and Democracy (BIBLEMODE),[3] and also heads the Abante International Ministries (AIM), the Grace and Truth Community International Foundation, Inc., and the Ben O. Abante Baptist Bible College.
He served as a councilor of Manila from the 6th district from 1992 to 1995. He was recognized by the Manila City Hall Press Club as the Outstanding Councilor of Manila in 1994. After his term as councilor, he served as commissioner of Presidential Commission for Urban Poor, Manila from 1996 to 1998. He was also named special assistant to national chairman of Lakas–NUCD in 2000.[citation needed]
House of Representatives
He ran and won a seat in the House of Representatives in May 2004. He was subsequently named chairman of the Committee on Public Information. His major undertakings in his district focused on health, education, social services and infrastructure development and/or improvement. Abante's committee also scrutinized the Right of Reply Bill that was criticized by the media organizations as a curtailment to the freedom of the press.[4] He also proposed an Anti-Sex Video Bill that imposes stiffer penalties of the people involved in the manufacture of sex videos.[5] He was one of the principal authors of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill during the 14th Congress. The FOI bill was defeated in Congress after its opponents questioned if there was a quorum on the final session day.[6] Abante unsuccessfully defended his seat in the 2010 election, losing to former representative Rosenda Ann "Sandy" Ocampo. He attempted a comeback to the Congress in 2013 and 2016 but was unsuccessful, losing both to Ocampo. Abante was elected as Representative of Manila's 6th District in 2019 with the previous incumbent Ocampo ineligible for reelection. He ran against Councilor Cassy Sison and newcomer Yvette Ocampo, Sandy's sister. He ran under the banner of Asenso Manileño with Isko Moreno running for Mayor.
On July 10, 2020, he is one of the 11 representatives who voted to grant the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. He is one of the two Manila Lawmakers to grant the franchise along with Edward Maceda.[7] He was re-elected in 2022.
Personal life
Abante married Marie Paz Toledo in 1977, and has three children. His daughter Priscilla Marie is a lawyer and had served as a councilor of Manila from the 6th district from 2013 to 2022.[8] His son Benny Fog III is an incumbent councilor from the same district since 2022.
References
- ^ Cruz, RG (December 7, 2020). "More Velasco allies named House deputy speakers". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ^ Cepeda, Mara (October 16, 2020). "House Minority Leader Abante Steps Down, Joins Velasco-Led Majority". Rappler. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
- ^ Agron, Edmon (July 3, 2018). "Baptist pastor explains Duterte's "stupid god" statement". eVolved. worldngayon.com. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- ^ Dalangin-Fernandez, Lira (March 5, 2009). "House begins discussing right of reply bill". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
- ^ Mabutas, Gabriel (June 13, 2009). "Bill vs sex videos pushed". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved December 15, 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Mangahas, Malou (June 7, 2010). "Secrets of Nograles House could be exposed by FOI". GMA News Online. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
- ^ Perez-Rubio, Bella (July 10, 2020). "List of lawmakers who voted for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ Gutierrez, Dennis (February 16, 2022). "'Team Isko' taps 2 Manila councilors as new campaign spokespersons". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
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- 1951 births
- Living people
- Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Manila
- Filipino Baptists
- People from Sampaloc, Manila
- People from Manila
- Lakas–CMD (1991) politicians
- Lakas–CMD politicians
- United Nationalist Alliance politicians
- National Unity Party (Philippines) politicians
- Far Eastern University alumni
- Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila alumni
- Manila City Council members
- Metro Manila city and municipal councilors
- Minority leaders of the House of Representatives of the Philippines