Prosecution calls for understanding for 'sleepy' Abante, says part of aging

The House prosecution team called on the public to extend some grace to Manila Rep. Benny Abante, who has been spotted sleeping twice in the Senate session hall amid the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte this week.

House prosecution panel spokesperson Zia Adiong said it is normal for people in advanced age to be sleepy at certain times of the day, and it does not make Abante less of a dedicated public servant.

“Congressman Abante is a very passionate and committed public servant, especially to the cause which he believes in. Lahat naman tayo may lolo. Lahat po tayo may kilalang senior citizen (All of us have grandparents. All of us know a senior citizen). At alam po natin, even if the body is frail, the spirit is there to continue serving the public. Nagkataon lang po [na] si Manong Benny, because of his age, talagang ganun [na makakatulog],” Adiong said in a press conference.

“He did not do that on purpose to insult the court. It's just the usual at a certain age na ganun talaga ang nangyayari [na madaling makatulog]. Lahat po naman tayo, alam naman po natin. Let's not be harsh about Manong Benny. Let's be more humane about our comments on senior citizen. What is important is, pumupunta siya, nakikinig siya, pinapakita po niya ang kanyang dedikasyon sa pagpapanagot sa mga tiwali sa gobyerno,” Adiong added.

(At certain age, people tend to be sleepy in certain moments. We all know that. What is important is he is committed to the cause of pushing for accountability among public officials.)

Abante is the current vice chairman of the House good government and public accountability panel, and is one of the constant resource persons during press conferences of the prosecution panel.

Earlier in the day, Senator-judge Ping Lacson posted a photo of a sleeping Abante, saying he wonders where Abante will sleep today, September 30, since the impeachment trial was cancelled.

“Impeachment trial cancelled today. Saan kaya matutulog ito? Kawawa naman,” Lacson said in a statement posted on X.

(I wonder where he will sleep. It is such a pity.)

In another statement, Lacson said the prosecution one-upped the defense team of the Vice President since Abante and private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan were caught sleeping, as against one who is on the defense side, former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.

Lacson even attached a video of three sleeping with a background song Tulog Na (Time to sleep) by OPM group Sugarfree. The video, the senator said, was provided by Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero.

In a press conference with Adiong, public prosecutor Terry Ridon said that moments of sleepiness do not diminish an individual’s capacity to fight for causes he or she believes in. —AOL, GMA News