IMPEACHMENT endorser and Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. over the weekend drew a sharp line between former vice president Leni Robredo and Vice President Sara Duterte as early 2028 talk heats up, urging voters to start with integrity and accountability before personalities and popularity, and arguing that Robredo enters any comparison without corruption issues, unlike Duterte who remains hounded by serious allegations.
“Meron bang complaints si Leni sa corruption, compared to the Vice President right now? ‘Yun dapat na makita ng taong bayan. Hindi pinag-uusapan dito ang personality. Ang pinag-uusapan dito, kailangan natin ng pangulo na matino at malinis,” Abante said during the Saturday Media Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
Abante, chair of the House Committee on Human Rights and a vice chair of the Quad Comm, placed the discussion in the context of what he described as a tougher electorate that is already paying closer attention to allegations, competence and governance choices well before the campaign season.
“Dapat may track record, meron mai-ooffer sa bayan na iba, na makikita natin na ang bansang Pilipinas ay lalong tatayo, lalong magiging maganda,” Abante said.
He also pointed out that, on paper, Robredo and Duterte share similarities in their political resumes, which he said makes the comparison even more dependent on results and competence rather than branding or popularity.
“May similarity naman si Leni at si Sara. Naging mayor ‘yung dalawa, naging vice president. Ang pinag-uusapan dito na dapat makita ng taong-bayan natin ‘yung track record. Ano ba ‘yung track record ni Leni? Ano ‘yung track record ni Sara?” Abante explained.
Abante then challenged Duterte’s record during her time at the Department of Education (DepEd), framing it as a practical test of executive management that should be fair game for voters who want measurable outcomes.
“Ano ba ‘yung nagawa ni Sara when she was the secretary of DepEd for two years? Ano ba ‘yung ginawa niya?” Abante said.
“Nadagdagan ba ‘yung mga classroom? Gumanda ba ‘yung restrooms sa mga public school? Gumanda ba ang ating education? At this point in time, kahit ngayon, nakikita natin, ang education natin ay hindi maganda,:” he added.
From there, he argued that any serious presidential bid should come with a clear offer to the country that goes beyond inheritance politics, because voters will be asked to decide whether they want a repetition of an old style of leadership or a credible plan that breaks away from dynastic instincts and centers public welfare.
“Pangalawa, ano ang mai-ooffer mo sa bayan? For example, if you’re going to repeat the performance of your father as president, is that what you can offer the country? Or meron ka pwedeng sabihin na may mai-ooffer ka sa bansa natin bilang isang Pangulo ng Pilipinas na hindi ka na naniniwala sa political dynasty, kung hindi ang pinaniniwalaan mo ‘yung pangangailangan ng taong bayan,” Abante asked.
“Dapat may continuity of progress. Dapat may continuity of economic rehabilitation, for example. Sapagkat Pag-iibahin mo na naman ‘yung programa pag pangulo ka, sapagkat wala kang belief sa dating pangulo, hindi po nakakaganda ‘yun sa bansang Pilipinas, because that is just playing politics,” Abante said.
Asked whether Duterte can be beaten in 2028 if Robredo runs, Abante acknowledged Duterte’s current strength while warning against the defeatist thinking that treats any candidate as permanent and untouchable, saying political fortunes change.
“She (Duterte) might be winnable, but she is not unbeatable,” Abante said.
“Kung ang iniisip po ng maraming tao na ito hindi na matatalo, hindi pa rin ‘yun. Palagay ko may mga pagbabago na mangyayari sa 2028.”
