Comelec proclaims 24 winning QC councilors

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has proclaimed all the 24 councilors-elect in Quezon City’s four districts, majority of whom are political allies of Mayor-elect Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP.

With the Lakas party dominating the composition of the incoming City Council, Belmonte said he is optimistic about the implementation of his programs for the city, which he vowed to lead through good and clean governance.

Alioden Dalaeg, chairman of the Board of Canvassers, proclaimed Wilma Sarino, Victor Ferrer Jr., Elizabeth Delarmente, Bernadette Herrera, all affiliated with administration party Lakas; Vincent Crisologo and Rommel Abesamis, both belonging to the opposition party Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), as duly elected councilors for the city’s First District.

In the Second District, the councilors-elect were Voltaire Liban III, actress Aiko Melendez-Yllana, Ramon Medalla, Eric Medina, all with Lakas; Mary Ann Susano (LDP) and Allan Francisco, an independent.

In the Third District, proclaimed were Jorge Banal and Dante de Guzman, both with Lakas; Franz Pumaren, Wencerom Lagumbay, Diorella Maria Sotto, all with LDP; and Julian Coseteng of the National People’s Coalition (NPC).

Sotto is a daughter of Sen. Vicente Sotto III while Coseteng is a son of outgoing Sen. Dominique Coseteng.

In the Fourth District, councilors-elect belonging to Lakas were Jesus Suntay, Antonio Inton, Ricardo del Rosario and Restituto Malangen, while those with the LDP were Alma Montilla and Janet Malaya.

Vice Mayor-elect Herbert Bautista, who ran under LDP, vowed to support Belmonte’s administration. He also vowed to extend a helping hand to speed up the "healing process" among leaders and constituents.

With the proclamation of all the city aldermen, only the congressional seat for the city’s Fourth District is left vacant. The local Comelec suspended the proclamation of winning candidate Nanette Daza after Edcel Lagman, who came close second in the race, filed election-related complaint against Daza.

Comelec proclaimed last Friday the victory of Belmonte, Bautista and the three congressmen Rey Calalay, Maite Defensor and Chuck Mathay who will represent the first three district of Quezon City to the 12th Congress. – Cecille Suerte Felipe and Matthew Estabillo