Comelec proclaims Belmonte, Sotto in QC

MANILA, Philippines — Incumbent Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte was proclaimed yesterday as the duly elected mayor of Quezon City.

Belmonte dominated the mayoralty race, based on the votes officially canvassed by the local Commission on Elections.

She defeated Bingbong Crisologo by a wide margin of more than 100,000 votes.

Belmonte garnered 469,480 votes while Crisologo got 366,215.

Crisologo conceded to Belmonte and accepted the results of the elections.

Another mayoralty bet, former congressman Chuck Mathay, received 19,106 votes.

Seven other candidates for mayor cornered a total of 13,180 votes.

Belmonte’s running mate, Councilor Gian Carlo Sotto, won as vice mayor.

Sotto edged out Jopet Sison for the post, with 382,393 and 343,473 votes, respectively. 

Former comedian and outgoing councilor Roderick Paulate got 112,687 votes. Three other candidates received a total of 12,985 votes. 

Belmonte and Sotto thanked their suppporters as the Serbisyo sa Bayan Party candidates won almost all of the local posts.

The elected councilors for District 1 are Bernard Herrera, Mayen Juico, Roday Delarmente, TJ Calalay, Nikki Crisologo and Jun Ferrer. 

Mikey Belmonte, Winnie Castelo, Bong Liban, Candy Medina, Toto Medalla and Star Valmocina were proclaimed councilors in District 2.

Winning councilors for District 3 are Franz Pumaren, Kate Coseteng, Jorge Banal, Peachy de Leon, John Defensor and Wency Lagumbay. 

Irene Belmonte, Imee Rillo, Marra Suntay, Resty Malangen, Ivy Lagman and Hero Bautista won as councilors in District 4.

Winners in District 5 include Joe Visaya, Karl Castelo, PM Vargas, Shay Liban, Ram Medalla and Allan Butch Francisco. 

The elected councilors for District 6 are Marivic Co, Bobby Castelo, Roger Juan, Lala Sotto, Donny Matias and Eric Medina. 

Smooth transition

Belmonte called on outgoing Mayor Herbert Bautista to lead the smooth transition of governance in the city. 

“I encourage him to form a transition team that would endorse to us the ongoing programs that we can continue,” she said.

Belmonte vowed to identify programs that her administration would focus on once she formally assumes office on July 1.

“First thing that I will do is to coordinate with our incumbent mayor to talk about the programs that we will be inheriting. We have to know the state of the city before we can come up with projects that we will carry out in the next six months,” Belmonte told reporters.

She said she would implement programs that will be responsive to the needs of residents: health, education, housing, jobs as well as peace and order.

Belmonte added her administration will work on in-city relocation of informal settlers and automation of transactions to speed up city hall operations and lessen face-to-face interactions, which are prone to red tape and corruption.

Sotto, who is set to head the city’s Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council, said he would prioritize the campaign against narcotics.

Congressional seats

Crisologo will be replaced by his son, Onyx, as representative of District 1.

Kit Belmonte retained his seat as representative of District 6. He won by a landslide after he garnered 94,673 votes.

Precious Castelo will take over the post of her husband, Winnie, as representative of District 2.

Other elected House members are three-term Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes (District 3), Bong Suntay (District 4), Alfred Vargas (District 5).

QC polls peaceful

The conduct of elections in Quezon City was generally peaceful, according to police.

Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said no election-related violence was recorded in the city.

Esquivel said they confiscated illegal campaign materials and sample ballots from the supporters of politicians.

He said distributing campaign materials on election day is prohibited under the law.

Police arrested 222 violators of the liquor ban.

Esquivel said 196 people were arrested and 136 firearms were seized during the implementation of the gun ban.  –  With Elizabeth Marcelo, Emmanuel Tupas