Daboy concedes to SB

Quezon City mayoral candidate Rudy Fernandez finally conceded defeat yesterday to Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr., and vowed to support the incoming mayor’s promise to provide effective governance in the city.

Fernandez, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino bet, said that he is willing to help the incoming Quezon City mayor in anyway he can to make good on the latter’s promise of "good, clean governance."

Despite his declaration of support, Fernandez lamented in his statement that the elections in Quezon City was not peaceful. This despite the assertion of the Central Police District (CPD) that the elections in the city was one of the most peaceful and orderly in years.

As of yesterday afternoon, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) unofficial count showed Belmonte leading with 124,356 votes compared to Fernandez’s 77,175. The tally completed about 35 percent of the total votes cast in the city’s four districts.

The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) on Saturday completed its count, with Belmonte emerging the winner with 302,351 votes. Fernandez was a distant second, garnering 206,555.

Belmonte welcomed Fernandez’s move, saying it would definitely ease the tension between both camps. "I expect to be proclaimed as the new city mayor within the week, and I assure the public that my first priority will be to improve the living standards of residents," Belmonte said.

Belmonte also called on all sectors to unite and join hands in building a better, safer, and more progressive metropolis. "We should now put politics aside and begin the healing process for the sake of our people. I thank my two worthy opponents for offering the olive branch. It is now time to unite and focus our energies in alleviating the lives of or poor people," Belmonte declared.

He then assured the people that "I’ll never fail your trust and abiding faith in me to make Quezon City a clean, peaceful and progressive city we all deserve."

Last week, Rep. Dante Liban readily conceded and congratulated Belmonte after the citywide precinct reports showed Belmonte was going to win the mayorship.

Belmonte, likewise expressed his gratitude to all his supporters, campaigners, leaders and all those who voted him into the mayorship of the city.

In the vice mayoralty race, actor Herbert Bautista continues to lead incumbent Vice Mayor Connie Angeles in the Comelec tally, with Bautista garnering 134,572 votes, while Angeles with 185,007.