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Manila Bulletin devider devider Mayor-elect Belmonte, Vice Mayor-elect Sotto to occupy their fathers' former posts

Mayor-elect Belmonte, Vice Mayor-elect Sotto to occupy their fathers' former posts

Published May 14, 2019 05:24 pm
By Alexandria San Juan and Chito Chavez Familiar surnames of former leaders in Quezon City are back in governing again the vote-rich city as new mayor and vice mayor were announced, at least 14 hours after the canvassing started. The Board of Canvassers in Quezon City has proclaimed incumbent Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and Councilor Gian Sotto as the new mayor and vice mayor of the City, respectively. COMELEC Board of Election members raise the hand of newly elect Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto and Mayor Joy Belmonte after the canvassing of votes at Quezon City Hall on Tuesday. (Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN) COMELEC Board of Election members raise the hand of newly elect Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto and Mayor Joy Belmonte after the canvassing of votes at Quezon City Hall on Tuesday.
(Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN) Belmonte's father, former House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, also served as the City Mayor in full three terms from 2001 to 2010, while Sotto's father, Senate President Tito Sotto, was the City's Vice Mayor from 1988 to 1992. The proclamation of the two top leaders in Quezon City was held after 14 hours of canvassing which immediately started right after voting precincts closed at 6 p.m. Based on the tally shown by the local electoral board, Belmonte has garnered a total of 469,480 votes obtained from the 1,487 clustered precincts across the City. She enjoyed a lead of over 100,000 votes against her fierce rival Quezon City representative Bingbong Crisologo who obtained a total of 366,215 votes, and tailed by former congressman Chuck Mathay with 19,106 votes. Belmonte will replace incumbent mayor Herbert Bautista who was her former running mate in their full three terms. Meanwhile, Belmonte's running mate, Gian Sotto, was also proclaimed as the City's new vice mayor after he led the race with a total of 382,393 votes in the local elections. This is almost 40,000 votes higher than Sotto's closest rival Jopet Sison who received a total of 343,473 followed by Roderick Paulate with 112,697. Out of the 1,330,118 registered voters in the City, only 907,912 actually voted for Mayor and Vice Mayor with 68.25 percent of voters' turnout. Belmonte and Sotto are under local Serbisyo sa Bayan Party (SBP), which later formed an alliance with Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), the regional political party of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Apart from Belmonte and Sotto, also proclaimed after the overnight canvassing were new and re-elected representatives and councilors in the six districts of Quezon City. Also proclaimed victorious were Onyx Crisologo (First District representative); Precious Castelo (Second District representative); Alan Benedict Reyes (Third District representative); Bong Suntay (Fourth District representative); Alfred Vargas (Fifth District representative) and Kit Belmonte (Sixth District representative). The following winning councilors were proclaimed Tuesday: District 1 Councilors: Bernard Herrera; Mayen Juico; Dorothy Delarmente; TJ Calalay; Nikki Crisologo; Victor Ferrer Jr. District 2 Councilors: Representative Winnie Castelo; Bong Liban; Candy Medina; Toto Medalla; Mikey Belmonte; Star Valmocina. District 3 Councilors: Franz Pumaren; Kate Coseteng; John Defensor; Wency Lagumbay; Jorge Banal; Peachy De Leon. District 4 Councilors: Imee Rillo; Marra Suntay; Irene Belmonte; Resty Malañgen; Ivy Lagman; Hero Bautista. District 5 Councilors: Joe Visaya; Karl Castelo; Patrick Michael Vargas; Shay Liban; Ram Medalla; Allan Butch Francisco. District 6 Councilors: Marivic Co-Pilar; Bobby Castelo; Roger Juan; Donny Matias; Lala Sotto; Eric Medina. After the proclamation, Belmonte vowed to immediately buckle down to work to ensure that all her campaign promises will be realized at the soonest time possible. Speaking to the media after the proclamation, Belmonte thanked residents of the City and assured them that they will immediately work for them as public servants. "Una sa lahat ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mamamayan ng lungsod Quezon na nagtiwala sa akin at sa aking mga kasamahan. Halos lahat po ng aking mga ka-team ay nanalo at ito po ay isang karalangan para sa amin," Belmonte said. "Gusto ko lang pong sabihin sa mga mamamayan ng lungsod na agad-agad po kaming magtatrabaho upang lahat ng aming mga sinabi na gagawin namin ay magagawa po namin sa lalong madaling panahon," she added. The new vice mayor also expressed his gratitude to their supporters and has vowed to continue the council's program on illegal drug clearing under his term. #MatalinongBoto2019
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