Already, 44 percent of the 1,200 precincts have already been tabulated by the Namfrel with Belmonte and Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista moving toward a repeat victory in their respective posts.
As of late Friday, the performance of Lakas-CMD continued to reflect the trust of its constituents on its administration, particularly due to what voters said are its cause-oriented programs which are people-friendly.
In the race of councilors in the First District, Lakas-CMD set the pace with five of the top six pacesetters belonging to Belmonte’s group.
Five in the top six — Beth Delarmente, Bernadette Dy, Victor Ferrer, Rommel Abesamis and Joseph "Sep" Juico — are Lakas-CMD candidates, with Francisco Calalay Jr., brother of the late congressman Reynaldo Calalay, completing the cast.
Both Juico, 27, and Calalay are first-timers in the election.
Also aspiring for seats in the council are Antonio Sioson and Martin Dino and Salvador Pleyto Jr.
As of 7 p.m. Friday, "Sep" Juico leads Sioson by 6,491 votes, Dino 8,348; Francisco, 10,559 and Pleyto, 10,578.
Belmonte had earlier pleaded for his partymates to remain "calm and undisturbed from any political shenanigans" and just rely on the trust of their constituents to continue serving as "watchdogs" in current situations.