‘Team Isko’ taps 2 Manila councilors as new campaign spokespersons

Manila 3rd District Councilor Ernesto “Jong” Isip, Jr. and 6th District Councilor Priscilla Marie T. Abante

MANILA, Philippines — Two Manila councilors, who are both lawyers and have worked with Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso have been enlisted as campaign spokespersons to further boost Team Isko’s newly-created Speakers’ Bureau.

Manila 3rd District Councilor Ernesto “Jong” Isip, Jr. and 6th District Councilor Priscilla Marie T. Abante are the latest addition to the Team Isko Speakers’ Bureau, which also include Ambassador Lito Banayo for campaign strategy and Ernest Ramel, chairman of Aksyon Demokratiko, for party-related and election issues.

The 45-year-old Isip is the principal author of Ordinance No, 8166 creating a Manila Public Employment Service Office (PESO) to implement the employment programs of the city government as enacted under Republic Act 8759.

Isip is also the principal author of Ordinance No. 8240 which established the Manila Alternative Learning System Program and Ordinance No. 8201 that led to the building of a district hospital in the 3rd District of Manila.

After graduating from San Beda College of Law in 2002, Isip honed his skills as a lawyer by working as an associate lawyer for Rodrigo Berrenguer and Guno Law Firm from 2004 to 2006.

From there, he worked as a Legislative Staff Officer of then Manila Vice Mayor Danilo Lacuna from 2005 to 2006, drafting city ordinances and resolutions applicable in the city.

Isip ran as city councilor the following year where he won and represented the 3rd District from 2007 up to 2016. In 2019, he again run as city councilor under the Asenso Manileño Party of Mayor Moreno where he won another seat in the City Council.

Abante became councilor in 2013 and is currently serving her third term representing the 6th District of the city. A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law in 2008, Abante also served as the acting Chief of Staff of her father, Minority Floor Leader and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” M. Abante, Jr.

Before entering local politics, Abante served as Commissioner-at-Large at the National Youth Commission from Sept. 2005 up to Dec. 2009 where she handled employment and international committees, drafting and deciding on policies and programs for youth development for recommendation to the President of the Philippines, various government agencies, House of Representatives and Senate.

From there she became an Associate for Ponce Enrile Reyes and Manalastas Law Office from Dec. 2009 up to September 2013 where she was assigned to draft pleadings, appear in court hearings, and meet clients. She was also primarily assigned in the litigation department, but also handle administrative cases, corporate clients and public policy matters.

The 42-year-old councilor is the current Chairperson of the National Movement of Young Legislators-National Capital Region.

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