The House Committee on Justice resumed its hearing on Monday, 2 March, to deliberate on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, a majority member, was in attendance and was allegedly overheard boasting about his “arm candy,” a reference to a Richard Mille watch.

DAILY TRIBUNE reviewed photos posted on Abante’s official Facebook page and compiled images of the watches he was seen wearing in his day-to-day activities.

From 2023 leading up to the 2025 midterm elections and into 2026, the following luxury watches were identified as being worn by Abante:

1.) 7 June 2023 YouTube show “The BMA Chronicles” poster, Rolex Serti Dial Submariner 16613, price range P700,000 to P1 million;

2.) 30 October 2023 Post addressed to new SK officials, Rolex Yacht-Master Blue, Price range P1 million to P5 million;

3.) 2 March 2024 SMART Grant in Manila post, Rolex Sky-Dweller Blue Dial, Price range P1.5 million to P5 million;

4.) 6 June 2024 Top-performing representatives post, Rolex Sky-Dweller two-tone , Price range P1 million to P3 million;

5.) 3 July 2024 Birthday celebration post, Rolex Submariner Date “Smurf,” Price range P2 million to P3 million;

6.) 28 September 2024 Pre-campaign post, Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech, Price range P800,000 to P1 million;

7.) 9 October 2024 Certificate of Candidacy filing, Breitling Chronomat 44, Price range P400,000 to P1 million;

8.) 8 April 2025 Election Campaign post, Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M, Price range P300,000 to P1 million;

9.) 9 August 2025 Distribution of check, CHED Tulong Dunong Program, Richard Mille RM 17 in titanium, Price P18 million;

10.) 20 February 2026 Post by Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Cartier Santos, Price range P400,000 to P800,000; and

11.) 2 March 2026 House Committee on Justice hearing on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment complaints, Richard Mille RM 11-03 Flyback, Price range P12 million to P32 million.

Pay mismatch

According to the Department of Budget and Management’s Distribution of Permanent Positions in the National Government by Salary Grade, representatives are classified under Salary Grade 31, while the House Speaker is under Salary Grade 32. The salary range for Salary Grade 31 is P278,434 to P318,806 per month based on the 2025 DBM manual.

All public officials are bound by Article XI of the 1987 Constitution, which states: “Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”

This provision is also part of the constitutional framework under which the House exercises its authority to verify impeachment complaints under Section 3.

Abante was known as a pastor before holding public office and gained national attention during the 2024 House Quad Committee hearings, where he co-chaired investigations into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, and the case of the missing “sabungeros” (cockfight enthusiasts).

He has repeatedly called out officials allegedly involved in corruption and has publicly stated that he stands with the Filipino people in support of transparency and justice.

One of his most recent notable actions was walking out of a committee hearing discussing the impeachment complaint filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., stating that the case lacked sufficient form.