The Honorable
Bienvenido M. Abante Jr.
Official portrait, 2022
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
In office
December 7, 2020 – June 1, 2022
House SpeakerLord Allan Velasco
House Minority Leader
In office
July 22, 2019 – October 16, 2020
Preceded byDanilo Suarez
Succeeded byJoseph Stephen Paduano
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Manila's 6th district
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Preceded bySandy Ocampo
In office
June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2010
Preceded byMark Jimenez
(Mario B. Crespo)
Succeeded bySandy 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.

(1951-05-15) May 15, 1951
Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines
Political partyNUP (2011-2012, 2019–present)
Other political
affiliations		Asenso Manileño (2019–present)
Lakas–CMD (1994-2011)
UNA (2012–2019)
Spouse
Marie Paz Toledo
​
(m. 1977)​
Alma materFar Eastern University
Citadel Baptist College (BA)
Baptist Bible College (MA)
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (MPA)
OccupationPolitician, Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Bible Baptist Ekklesia

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 senior pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Ekklesia (formerly Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Ministries) in Santa Ana, Manila.[3]

Early life and education

Abante was born in Santa Mesa, Manila on July 15, 1951, the eldest of four sons of Rev. Bienvenido "Ben" O. Abante Sr. and Priscilla Mirando. He has two younger brothers, who both grew up to be ministers.[4]

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 as an auditor.[4] 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 Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri and Baptist Bible College in Makati, respectively. He also holds a master's degree in Government Management from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Ministerial 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 an 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),[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.

In 2014, Abante appeared in the action drama film Alibughang Anak (lit. 'Prodigal Son'), directed by fellow pastor Rudy Fajardo.[6]

Political career

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.

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.[7] He also proposed an Anti-Sex Video Bill that imposes stiffer penalties of the people involved in the manufacture of sex videos.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] He was re-elected in 2022.

Positions

LGBT issues

Abante has made some legislative proposals that affects the LGBT community. In 2010, he filed a bill that proposed the criminalization of conducting same sex unions, which he views "highly immoral, scandalous and detestable", which aims to penalize couples and the solemnizing officer by fine an imprisonment.[11]

He has also filed a bill to institutionalize the rights of heterosexual people including guaranteeing them being able 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 to protect 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 apt. He also believes that LGBT people who face discrimination ought to "to be what God created us to be".[12]

Abante has opposed the passage of a legislation guaranteeing rights of members of the LGBT community, believing that such measure would eventually lead to the legalization of same sex unions. He believes that LGBT rights is more of a "moral issue" rather than a "rights issue".[13] He opposed the SOGIE Equality Bill, saying the constitution grants already sufficient rights.[14]

Despite his stances, Abante says he does not discriminate against the LGBT community, noting that he had supporters who are LGBT.[14]

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 if the subjects are adults or children; consensual or non-consensual.[15][16]

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.[17] His son Benny Fog III is an incumbent councilor from the same district since 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Cruz, RG (December 7, 2020). "More Velasco allies named House deputy speakers". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "Dr. Benny M. Abante, Jr". MBBE.org. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "A Short Biographical Sketch Of The Honorable Congressman Benny M. Abante, Jr., Th. D." Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church & Ministries. Archived from the original on March 26, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  5. ↑ Agron, Edmon (July 3, 2018). "Baptist pastor explains Duterte's "stupid god" statement". eVolved. worldngayon.com. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  6. ↑ Fajardo, Rudy (October 16, 2021). "Christian Film Showing Tour from Luzon, Visayas to Mindanao". Facebook. Meta Platforms, Inc. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Mabutas, Gabriel (June 13, 2009). "Bill vs sex videos pushed". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  9. ↑ Mangahas, Malou (June 7, 2010). "Secrets of Nograles House could be exposed by FOI". GMA News Online. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  10. ↑ Perez-Rubio, Bella (July 10, 2020). "List of lawmakers who voted for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  11. ↑ Tabingco, Peter (February 24, 2010). "Same-sex marriage criminalized under bill". Business Insight Malaya. Archived from the original on February 24, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Pastor-solon Abante files pro-heterosexual rights bill, but downplays it later". Manila Bulletin. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Pro-gay bill not a rights issue - House HR chair". GMA News. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Gregorio, Xave (June 24, 2019). "House minority leader affirms stance vs anti-discrimination bill". CNN Philippines. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  15. ↑ Diaz, Jess (June 2, 2009). "Blame Revilla, not House, for cybersex proliferation - lawmaker". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  16. ↑ Diaz, Jess. "House passes anti-pornography measure". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  17. ↑ 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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