Belmonte: No dirty tricks for me

With the May 14 elections only a few days away, it’s now the time for dirty tricks.

But the leading mayoral candidate in Quezon City, Speaker Feliciano "SB" Belmonte Jr., reiterated his commitment to stick to clean politics despite reports that his rivals have resorted to malicious innuendoes to destroy him.

"Marumi na nga ang kampanya nila, bakit pa natin papatulan? (They have resorted to a dirty campaign, why should we go down to their level?)," he asked.

"We need to reform our politics. Winning at all cost is not my cup of tea. Winning a clean fight is what really matters most," he said.

He said he will continue explaining to Quezon City voters his good government platform and the programs he intends to undertake if he wins the elections on Monday.

He added he was confident that city voters would see through his rivals’ dirty tricks and would choose a candidate with a good platform and a solid track record of performance.

Based on two surveys conducted by independent pollster Smart Research Services, Inc., Belmonte has a commanding lead over his two rivals.

Belmonte has been campaigning against graft and corruption in government. His crusade began when he served as manager of the prosecution panel in the historic impeachment trial of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

He stressed that all the allegations being peddled by his opponents are nothing but "recycled and unfounded attacks."

"I will never go to the people if I know that I have hiding something which I should be ashamed of," he said.

He said he will forgive his opponents for their personal attacks against him.

"I am not a vindictive person," he said.

Recent surveys showed Belmonte consistently receiving the support of 54 percent of respondents from the city’s four districts.