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Benny Abante
Filipino politician and pastor (born 1951) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Bienvenido "Benny" Mirando Abante Jr. (born July 15, 1951) is a Filipino politician and Bible-Baptist pastor who is serving as the representative of Manila's sixth district from 2019 to present, a position he previously held from 2004 to 2010. He also served as a deputy speaker of the House from 2020 to 2022, minority leader of the House from 2019 to 2020, and as a member of the Manila City Council from 1992 to 1995.[1][2] He is also the senior pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Ekklesia (formerly Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Ministries) in Santa Ana, Manila.[3]
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Early life and education
Abante was born in Santa Ana, Manila, on July 15, 1951, as the eldest of four sons of Bienvenido "Ben" O. Abante Sr. and Priscilla Mirando. He has two younger brothers, both of whom grew up to be ministers.[4]
While growing up, Abante took odd jobs such as shining shoes, selling newspapers and corsages, and working on a construction site. He also worked as an auditor.[4] Abante earned his bachelor's degree from Far Eastern University in 1971.[citation needed] Later, he graduated with bachelor's and graduate degrees in theology at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, and Baptist Bible College in Makati, respectively.[citation needed] He also holds a master's degree in Government Management from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.[citation needed]
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Theological career
In 1975, he founded the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Ministries in Santa Ana, Manila. He is also involved in the academia, having been named 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 an honorary degree in theology by The Citadel Baptist College in 1985 and an honorary doctor of theology degree at Indianapolis Baptist College in 1987.[citation needed]
In 1986, he founded the Bible Believers League for Morality and Democracy (BIBLEMODE),[5] and also heads the Abante International Ministries (AIM), the Grace and Truth Community International Foundation, Inc., and the Ben O. Abante Baptist Bible College.[6]
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Early political career
Abante served as a councilor of Manila from the 6th district from 1992 to 1995. In August 1993, he sponsored a proposed ordinance prohibiting the exhibition of films in Manila that either glorify criminals or feature excessive sex scenes, arguing that these types of films "destroy the moral integrity and character of a person."[7] He was recognized by the Manila City Hall Press Club as the Outstanding Councilor of Manila in 1994. After his term as councilor, he ran for vice mayor in 1995, with Mel Lopez as his running mate, but both lost.[citation needed]
He served as commissioner of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor from 1996 to 1998. He was also named special assistant to the national chairman of Lakas–NUCD in 2000.[citation needed]
House of Representatives
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Elections
Abante ran for and won a seat in the House of Representatives in 2004. Abante was reelected in 2007, but unsuccessfully defended his seat in 2010, losing to former representative Rosenda Ann "Sandy" Ocampo. He attempted a comeback to 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 re-election. 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. He was re-elected in 2022.
Abante ran again for congressman in 2025,[8] but narrowly lost to councilor Joey Uy.[9] However, the COMELEC Second Division proclaimed him as the duly re-elected representative after Uy's candidacy was declared void due to his citizenship.[10] On June 30, 2025, COMELEC en banc ruled with finality declaring Uy's candidacy null and void and affirmed Abante's reelection.[11] Abante was formally proclaimed congressman on July 8.[12]
Tenure
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 of the freedom of the press.[13] He also proposed an Anti-Sex Video Bill that imposes stiffer penalties on the people involved in the manufacture of sex videos.[14] 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 whether there was a quorum on the final session day.[15]
On July 10, 2020, he was one of the 11 representatives who voted to grant the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. He was one of the two Manila lawmakers to grant the franchise, along with Edward Maceda.[16]
In late 2024, Abante headed the Quad Committee, which launched inquiries on alleged extrajudicial killings and other irregularities during the war on drugs campaign under former president Rodrigo Duterte.[17][18] Alongside Santa Rosa Representative Danilo "Dan" Fernandez, he stepped down as the co-chairman of the committee in November 2024 after former Mandaluyong City Police Chief Hector Grijaldo accused them of pressuring him to admit the existence of the drug war reward system.[19]
But in February 2025 QuadCom hearings, he cursed "ah---namo" which means "your mother". His reason for this due to his anger at a content creator who accused him of being a protector of illegal drugs. His actions caught his committee co-members off-guard and Fernandez reminded him of his decorum.[20]
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Political positions
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LGBT issues
In 2010, Abante filed a bill that proposed the criminalization of conducting same sex unions, which he views as "highly immoral, scandalous, and detestable." The bill aims to penalize couples and the solemnizing officer by fine and imprisonment.[21]
He has also filed a bill to institutionalize the rights of heterosexual people, including guaranteeing their right to express opinions about LGBT issues according "to their religious beliefs and practices and to biblical principles and standards." Since there were efforts to introduce bills protecting the rights of LGBT people, Abante argued that in the spirit of "justice, equity, and fair play", a bill on heterosexuals, who he says are "actual and direct creations of God" is appropriate. He also believes that LGBT people who face discrimination have "to be what God created us to be".[22]
Abante has opposed the passage of legislation guaranteeing rights of members of the LGBT community, believing that such measures would eventually lead to the legalisation of same sex unions. He views LGBT rights as more of a "moral issue" than a "rights issue".[23] He opposed the SOGIE Equality Bill, saying the constitution already grants sufficient rights.[24]
Despite his stances, Abante says he does not discriminate against the LGBT community, noting that he has supporters who are LGBT.[24]
Pornography
Abante has aimed to legislate a measure banning pornography. His House Bill No. 3305 was passed by the House of Representatives in 2008, which would prohibit the production of pornographic videos regardless of whether the subjects are adults or children; consensual or non-consensual.[25][26]
Capital punishment
Abante supports capital punishment for crimes consisting of the following offenses: drug trafficking, massacre, child rape, and rape-slay. He had supported president Rodrigo Duterte's proposal to restore the death penalty for drug-related and heinous crimes.[27]
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Personal life
Abante married Marie Paz Toledo in 1977 and has three children. His daughter Priscilla Marie is a lawyer and served as a councilor of Manila from the 6th district from 2013 to 2022 and spokesperson of the House of Representatives of the Philippines since 2025.[28][29] His son, Benny Fog III is an incumbent councilor from the same district since 2022.[citation needed]
Electoral performance
2025
- Previous term expired; Abante was seated late as the ruling on the disqualification case of Joey Uy, who defeated him in the 2025 election, remained contested.
- The Commission on Elections ruled that Uy's certificate of candidacy is void ab initio; declared Benny Abante as the duly elected representative of the district.
2022
2019
2016
2013
2010
2004
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Notes
References
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