Neophyte bet tops QC district derby

Lawyer Edcel Lagman Jr. has emerged as the No. 1 councilor in the fourth district of Quezon City after receiving 78,721 votes as a neophyte candidate.

Lagman Jr., 31, is the son of human rights crusader and veteran national legislator Edcel Lagman, who served as congressman representing the first district of Albay province from 1987 to 1998.

The elder Lagman himself is returning to the House of Representatives after winning by a landslide in his home district in the province.

Lagman Jr. was proclaimed winning councilor last week, together with Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and fourth district councilors Antonio Inton Jr., Alma Montilla, Janet Malaya, Restituto Malangen and Bayani Hipol.

His program of action includes the establishment of a new drug treatment and rehabilitation center in his district and the creation of a Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Quezon.

Lagman Jr. said he would help organize members of the local Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association into a viable cooperative that would, among others, purchase motorcycles and spare parts for resale to members through affordable payment terms.

He vowed to push for the declaration of every last Friday of the month as Senior Citizens’ Day, which will be marked with free medical, dental and optical services.

"Our action plan also includes reforms to protect juvenile offenders and female inmates from neglect and abuse, and remedies to ease the congestion of local jails," Lagman Jr. said. "We likewise intend to revitalize socialized housing for informal settlers in depressed communities, and strengthen livelihood support programs to help marginal households become self-reliant economically."