By Chito Chavez
Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte acknowledged the support of President Duterte and his daughter Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and other groups were the major keys that allowed her to widen her lead in the latest mayoral survey on Monday’s May 13, 2019 midterm polls.
Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an independent survey conducted by RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD Inc.), dated May 4-8, Belmonte's lead stretched to 65 percent, from the 60 percent voter preference in the previous poll, over opponents Cong. Vincent Crisologo and Ismael Mathay III.
Crisologo obtained 30 percent of votes from almost 8,000 registered voters, who participated in the survey, while Mathay received three percent of the votes.
Belmonte attributed her increased lead to the confidence in her by Quezon City residents, as well as from various groups that showed their support.
"Securing the lead in these surveys is an important milestone, especially (when) we're already in the crucial days just before the local elections. I'm grateful that the people consistently choose me as their next leader in Quezon City," said Belmonte.
"Nagpapasalamat din ako sa Kapatiran ng Iglesia ng Cristo sa kanilang paghayag ng opisyal na suporta sa akin. Gayundin ang mga iba't ibang grupo na nag-endorso po sa ating kandidatura. Having these organizations' endorsement, I am more motivated to not disappoint them for trusting me and my abilities as a leader (I am also thankful to the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) for their official endorsement. And to the other groups who also endorsed our candidacy. With this endorsements, I am more motivated to not disappoint them for trusting me and my abilities as a leader)," she added.
As an ally of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte's Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), Belmonte also expressed her gratitude to HNP for rallying their supporters in the city to strengthen her bid for mayor as well as the candidacy of the whole slate of her local party, the Serbisyo sa Bayan Party (SBP).
In November last year, SBP formally forged an alliance with HNP headed by Belmonte and Sara respectively.
"I would also like to thank President Duterte for publicly showing his support. Of course, I assure him that, if elected, I will stay committed to the fight against illegal drugs and criminality in the city, among the administration's other objectives," Belmonte said.
To recall President Duterte on two separate occasions last year raised Belmonte’s hand to support her mayoral candidacy. #MatalinongBoto2019
READ MORE: INC endorses Belmonte for Quezon City mayor