Belmonte proclaimed QC mayor

Outgoing Speaker and Mayor-elect Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. pledged a "new dawn" for Quezon City as he vowed to bring good governance to the city.

"I will strive to bring a new dawn to our beloved city," Belmonte told a jampacked crowd at the Albert Hall of the Quezon City Hall after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed him the city’s 10th mayor.

"Let us all cooperate for the future of our city," he said. "I’m here as a leader but I still need your help to realize all my programs for Quezon City."

At the same time, Belmonte called on other elected officials to unite and try to improve the living standards of city residents, regardless of political affiliations."It is high time that political rivals must come together and share one goal. And while I lead the city through good, clean governance, I am sure we shall all realize our hopes for the city," said Belmonte, who was accompanied by his children Isaac, Kevin, Miguel and Joy.

On July 1, Belmonte will be the 10th mayor of Quezon City following Mayors Tomas Morato, Ponciano Bernardo, Nicanor Roxas, Ignacio Santos Diaz, Norberto Amoranto, Adelina Rodriguez, Brigido Simon Jr. and Ismael Mathay Jr.

Belmonte vowed to work with Vice Mayor-elect Herbert Bautista who beat Belmonte’s running mate outgoing Vice Mayor Connie Angeles and was also proclaimed by the Comelec along with three of the city’s four congressional representatives.

"I am ready to cooperate with Mayor Belmonte and I am willing to support his administration for the sake of the welfare of the people," Bautista said.

Bautista supported Belmonte’s call for bipartisan cooperation and vowed to help in the "healing process" among city leaders and residents.

With about 97 percent of all votes counted, the Comelec counted 339,432 votes for Belmonte, who led the administration’s People Power Coalition (PPC) ticket for the city, while actor Rudy Fernandez of the Puwersa ng Masa (PnM) coalition garnered 228,773 votes.

Comelec board of canvassers chairman Alioden Dalaig said the elected councilors of the city’s four districts will be proclaimed tomorrow.

Also proclaimed winners of QC’s congressional race were re-electionist Reynaldo Calalay of the first district, Chuck Mathay for the second district and Ma. Theresa Defensor for the third district.

The only unsettled contest is for the fourth district where a close three-way race is being heatedly fought among Nanette Daza, former Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and outgoing Mayor Mathay .

With 91 percent of the vote counted, the Comelec tallied 33,580 votes for Daza, 32,212 votes for Lagman and 28,960 votes for Mathay.