LP: Bautista, Belmonte sure winners in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - The Liberal Party said yesterday its candidates for mayor and vice mayor in Quezon City were sure winners in the May 10 local elections, based on surveys.

In a statement, LP vice presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Roxas II, also party president, said a survey of the Social Weather Stations, one of the authoritative polling firms in the country, gave Quezon City mayoral bet Bautista and his running mate, Joy Belmonte, as much as 60-percentage point lead over their opponents.

Roxas said his and LP standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s call for new leaders who would abide by good governance principles and pursue reforms was best exemplified by young and intelligent public servants like the Bautista-Belmonte tandem.

In the mayoralty race survey, Bautista was picked by 75 percent of the respondents. He was followed by Rep. Mary Ann Susano with nine percent; former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, six percent, Ismael Mathay Jr., five percent; and Antonio Inton, three percent.

Belmonte led the vice mayoralty race with a 60 percent rating. In second spot was Janet “Babes” Malaya with 19 percent and Aiko Melendez, 17 percent.

The SWS survey, sponsored by Giovanni Estrada, was conducted from Dec. 16 to 19 among randomly picked residents of Quezon City’s four congressional districts: 100 from District 1, 200 from District 2, 100 from District 3 and 100 from District 4.

Roxas said Bautista’s and Belmonte’s own public service record over the past decade also showed their ability to respond effectively to their constituents’ needs, thus their very big support among Quezon City voters.

Aquino and Roxas said they are expecting local supporters to swell come March despite the alleged harassment being done by the administration against those who were joining the LP.