Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. on Tuesday compared House prosecution lawyer Atty. Mae S. Divinagracia to Bilyonaryo News Channel host Atty. Karen Jimeno by both describing them as “magaling and matapang.”
Abante made the comparison while expressing confidence that the House prosecution team could draw new information from Atty. Michael Poa, a former spokesperson of Vice President Sara Duterte, regarding the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
During an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront with Jimeno, Abante was asked if he expected the prosecution to obtain additional information from Poa when he testifies in the impeachment trial.
“Baka, palagay ko,” Abante said.
He then vouched for the prosecution team’s ability to extract information from Poa, whom he earlier described as having been close to Duterte and having served in her offices for years.
“And belib ako sa prosecution team namin. Magaling sila,” Abante said.
Abante then singled out Divinagracia by telling Jimeno that the prosecution lawyer was “kahawig” of her.
“Especially yung isang abogado rin na kahawig mo din,” Abante said, referring to Divinagracia.
“Magaling, matapang,” he added.
Abante said he believed the prosecution team’s litigation skills could enable it to uncover information that had not previously surfaced.
“And so, sabi ko, I think that the prosecution team would be able to discover something that has not been talked before,” he said.
His statements came as the House prosecution team prepared to present evidence and witnesses in the impeachment proceedings against Duterte with Poa’s expected testimony drawing attention because of his previous role as spokesperson for the Vice President.#