Iglesia declares support for SB

Four days before the May 14 elections, the influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has declared its support for Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr., who is a leading candidate for mayor in Quezon City.

With the so-called "bloc or solid voting," the INC’s support could spell victory for national and local candidates. In Quezon City, there are about 300,000 members of INC who are registered voters.

In choosing Belmonte, INC leaders considered the accomplishments, achievements, competence and platform of government of the three-termer congressman of Quezon City’s Fourth District.

A source from INC said leaders of the religious group would formally announce tomorrow the complete list of the candidates it will back in the elections.

"The INC assesses the platform of government of all the candidates and only Speaker Belmonte has the concrete plans for the city," the source noted.

Aside from INC, groups of urban poor and youth have also expressed their support for Belmonte, who is the official candidate of the LAKAS-NUCD and the People Power Coalition. Belmonte with his running mate incumbent Vice Mayor Connie Angles is also being endorsed by the National People’s Coalition.

Under the banner of good governance, Belmonte vowed to help improve the living standards of the more than two million Quezon City residents by providing them with free health services, education to poor youths and livelihood program. Infrastructure projects will also be part of Belmonte’s priorities. –Cecille Suerte Felipe and Jess Diaz