Belmonte is Iglesia’s choice in QC

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and three of his congressional candidates have been endorsed by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for Monday’s general elections, a highly reliable source told The STAR yesterday.

The congressional candidates who received the INC’s blessing are Berna Romulo Puyat for the 1st district, lawyer Mat Defensor (3rd district) and re-electionist Nanette Castelo-Daza (4th district).

Political observers said the endorsement further increases the comfortable lead enjoyed by Belmonte over his rival, former mayor Mel Mathay.

Recent poll surveys conducted by an independent organization showed that Belmonte is the mayor of choice of 74 percent of Quezon City voters with Mathay receiving 19 percent.

"If this margin holds and is translated into votes, Belmonte is expected to win by a majority of not less than 300,000 over Mathay on the premise that at least 600,000 of the city’s 1.2 million voters will participate in the electoral exercise on Monday," one political analyst said. – Perseus Echeminada