AN ALUMNA of the Faculty of Civil Law and the Faculty of Arts and Letters has been appointed spokesperson of the House of Representatives, marking the first time the lower chamber named an official mouthpiece.
Thomasian lawyer Priscilla Maria “Princess” Abante accepted the appointment on Tuesday, May 27, formally issued by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.
Abante said she would strengthen the House’s communications to fight “fake news.”
“What I intend to do is deliver truthful statements, and as much as possible mas maintindihan hindi lang ng mga kaibigan natin sa media kundi pati ng mamamayan mismo,” she told reporters. “[Dapat] mahimay natin ang impormasyon na mas maintindihan ng mga tao.”
Abante earned her law degree from UST in 2008. She also obtained her pre-law degree from the University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Faculty of Arts and Letters in 2000.
Prior to taking on her new role at the House of Representatives, Abante was the spokesperson for outgoing Manila Mayor Sheilah Maria “Honey” Lacuna and chief of the Manila Public Information Office.
Abante served as a councilor for District 6 of the City of Manila from 2013 to 2022, during which she authored 40 ordinances.
She also served as the chief of staff of her father, outgoing Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., in the Office of the Minority Leader from July 2019 to October 2020.
Abante was a litigation lawyer and associate at the Ponce Enrile Reyes and Manalastas Law Firm from 2009 to 2013.
The newly appointed House of Representatives spokesperson will serve until the end of the 19th Congress on June 30, coinciding with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate.
She is expected to retain her role until the 20th Congress, set to convene on July 28, should House Speaker Martin Romualdez be reelected by House members to his post.
