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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Quad-comm official's daughter-lawyer gets prominent House post

Quad-comm official's daughter-lawyer gets prominent House post

Published May 27, 2025 02:54 pm

At A Glance

  • The daughter of an outgoing quad-committee (quad-comm) co-chairman has been designated as House of Representatives spokesperson--a newfangled position in the lower chamber.
House Spokesperson Princess Abante (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
House Spokesperson Princess Abante (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)





The daughter of an outgoing quad-committee (quad-comm) co-chairman has been designated as House of Representatives spokesperson--a newfangled position in the lower chamber.

Marking her first day on the job Tuesday, May 27 was lawyer Princess Abante, daughter of outgoing Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. 

Rep. Abante chairs the House Committee on Human Rights, which is one of the four panels comprising the vaunted quad-comm.

"I believe I will assume starting today as House spokesperson. I will be working closely with all of our media friends here sa (in the) House, give the official statements from the House leadership, give updates sa mga exciting times that we are looking forward to in the next Congress," Spokesperson Abante said in a chance interview.

The 20th Congress will start in July. Asked if this was the first time that the House of Representatives named a dedicated spokesperson in its long history, the lawyer said: "As far as I know, yes."

She said she was "approached by the House leadership" for the position. She said she has yet to talk to House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Asked why the lower chamber needed to hire its own spokesperson, Abante gave a straightforward answer. 

"There is a need to strengthen the communication mula sa House, ensure yung tama at makatotohan impormasyon ay naibababa natin sa mamamayan (There is a need to strengthen the communication coming from the House and ensure that correct and truthful communication gets trickled down to the people).

"Ayaw talaga natin ng fake news no, kaya kailangan maging mas maayos yung pagpapaliwanag natin ng mga polisiya na binabalangkas ng Kongresong ito (We really don't like fake news, thus the need to explain properly the policies being crafted by this Congress)," she explained.
Who is Princess Abante?

Spokesperson Abante is a lawyer with experience in legislative consultancy, public policy messaging and civic education. 

She has been a three-term councilor in the City of Manila, with her last engagement being the head of the Manila Public Information Office, as well as spokesperson and Head of Communication under the Office of the Mayor of Manila.

She is a graduate of AB Journalism and Bachelor of Laws at the Faculty of Civil Law at the University of Santo Tomas (UST). 

Spokesperson Abante also served as commissioner-at-large of the National Youth Commission from 2005 to 2009 before joining the Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas Law Firm to work as a litigation lawyer, handling high profile criminal and civil cases.

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