25 Facts About Benny Abante

Benny Abante served as a Deputy Speaker of the House from 2020 to 2022, Minority Leader of the House from 2019 to 2020, and as a councilor of Manila's 6th district from 1992 to 1995.

Benny Abante is the senior pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Ekklesia in Santa Ana, Manila.

Benny Abante has two younger brothers, both of whom grew up to be ministers.

Benny Abante earned his bachelor's degree from Far Eastern University in 1971.

Benny Abante is 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.

Benny Abante was conferred an honorary degree in theology by Citadel Baptist College in 1985 and honorary doctor of Theology degree at Indianapolis Baptist College in 1987.

Benny Abante served as a councilor of Manila from the 6th district from 1992 to 1995.

Benny Abante served as commissioner of the Presidential Commission for Urban Poor from 1996 to 1998.

Benny Abante ran for and won a seat in the House of Representatives in 2004.

Benny Abante was named chairman of the Committee on Public Information.

Benny Abante's committee scrutinized the Right of Reply Bill that was criticized by the media organizations as a curtailment of the freedom of the press.

Benny Abante was one of the principal authors of the Freedom of Information Bill during the 14th Congress.

Benny Abante was reelected in 2007, but unsuccessfully defended his seat in 2010, losing to former representative Rosenda Ann "Sandy" Ocampo.

Benny Abante attempted a comeback to Congress in 2013 and 2016 but was unsuccessful, losing both to Ocampo.

Benny Abante was elected as Representative of Manila's 6th district in 2019, with the previous incumbent Ocampo, ineligible for reelection.

Benny Abante ran against councilor Cassy Sison and newcomer Yvette Ocampo, Sandy's sister.

Benny Abante was one of the two Manila Lawmakers to grant the franchise along with Edward Maceda.

In late 2024, Benny 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.

Benny Abante has made some legislative proposals that affected the LGBT community.

Benny Abante believes that LGBT people who face discrimination ought "to be what God created us to be".

Benny Abante opposed the SOGIE Equality Bill, saying the constitution grants already sufficient rights.

Benny Abante had supported president Rodrigo Duterte's proposal to restore death penalty for drug-related and heinous crimes.

Benny Abante married Marie Paz Toledo in 1977, and has three children.

Benny Abante's daughter Priscilla Marie is a lawyer and had served as a councilor of Manila from the 6th district from 2013 to 2022.

Benny Abante's son Benny Fog III is an incumbent councilor from the same district since 2022.