LP slate makes near sweep in QC

MANILA, Philippines - The Liberal Party slate led by re-electionists Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte dominated the May 13 elections in Quezon City, sweeping almost all elective posts. 

The slate, including Speaker Feliciano Sonny Belmonte, swept all the congressional seats in the six districts in the city. The proclamation was held yesterday afternoon after majority of the votes had been canvassed. 

Only four candidates for councilor did not belong to the ticket led by Bautista and Belmonte.

Bautista was proclaimed mayor after garnering 562,822 votes of those already counted over his opponents Johnny Chang and Henry Samonte.

Following his proclamation, Bautista said the “resounding” mandate given him by the voters of Quezon City “emboldens me to strengthen my resolve to champion the dreams and aspirations of all who have a stake in the city’s continuing progress. We shall live up to our advocacy where everyone is a winner.”

The younger Belmonte won her second term as vice mayor after getting 567,192 votes over opponent Rolando Jota. 

As for the congressional seats, Speaker Belmonte garnered 98,559 votes over challenger Hans Palacios in the race for the city’s fourth congressional district. He hopes to introduce more reforms that would benefit his constituents.

For representative of the first district, Boy Calalay won with 62,710 votes over Rita Crisologo, wife of incumbent congressman Bingbong Crisologo, and Gary Jamile.

Winston Castelo won with 81,645 votes as congressman of the second district over Ismael Mathay III.

Calalay and Castelo both said they will focus on housing projects for the poor.

In the third district, John Jorge Banal won with 49,731 votes over Mat Defensor. He said he plans to review his legislative agenda.

In the newly created fifth district, actor Alfred Vargas won with 67,753 votes over Annie Rosa Susano, Dante Liban and Isagani Oro. Vargas wants to pass laws that would benefit small to medium-scale entrepreneurs.

In the sixth district, which is also newly created, lawyer Christopher “Kit” Belmonte ran unopposed. He received 80,796 votes. 

As for the councilors, those who won in district one were Anthony Crisologo (United Nationalist Alliance or UNA), RJ Belmonte, Dorothy Delarmente, Mayen Juico, Victor Ferrer Jr. and Alex Herrera.

The winners for councilor in district two who were proclaimed so far were Precious Hipolito-Castelo, Bong Liban III, actor Roderick Paulate and Rannie Ludovica. Those on the fourth, fifth and sixth spot had slim margins between each other so the last two winners could not be determined yet.

Proclaimed as councilors in district three were Allan Reyes, Giancarlo Sotto, basketball coach Franz Pumaren, Eufemio Lagumbay, Jose Mario de Leon (PDP-Laban), and Jaime Borres.

The winning candidates for councilors in district four were Jesus Suntay, Marvin Rillo, Vicente Belmonte, Raquel Malangen, Jessica Daza, and Bayani Hipol.

Those who won as district five councilors were Joe Visaya (independent), Allysson Medalla, Godie Liban II, comedian Andres Jose Yllana (UNA), Allan Francisco and Karl Castelo.

Proclaimed as councilors in district six were Eden Medalla, Diorella Sotto, Ma. Victoria Pillar, Rogelio Juan, Melecio Castello Jr. and Donato Matias.