11 incumbent Metro Manila mayors trump rivals
WINNING TANDEM Quezon City’s incumbent officials, Mayor Joy Belmonte and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, are proclaimed on Tuesday after winning their reelection bids. With them is Belmonte’s father, former House Speaker Sonny Belmonte. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — All 11 of Metro Manila’s incumbent mayors who ran for reelection in the May 12 elections have ended up securing another term, based on partial and unofficial results released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as of Tuesday.
The biggest winner was Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who will serve her third and final term after garnering 1,030,730 votes.
Her closest rival for the post, independent candidate Diosdado Velasco, received only 20,803 votes.
In her message to QCitizens, as she refers to her constituents, Belmonte promised to double her efforts in her last term, vowing to deliver quality public service that is “Tapat, Malinis at Mahusay (Faithful, Honest and Excellent).”
She also emphasized her commitment to addressing pressing issues such as housing, health care, and environmental sustainability.
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon, who ran unopposed for a second term, was declared the winner during the proclamation of elected city officials held at the People’s Center in Putatan.
In a post on Facebook, Biazon thanked voters in the city for trusting him again.
Prayers fulfilled
“First of all, I thank the Lord for guiding me in all the decisions I have made in this campaign. Our prayers for a safe, peaceful, and victorious campaign were fulfilled,” he said.
“I thank every 1-Munti who did not let go, for all those who moved, stood up, and believed in our advocacy. Because of you, I and most of our team were given another chance to serve our city,” he added.
According to Biazon, Muntinlipeños can expect continued good service as he vowed to match the people’s faith in him with “honest and wholehearted service.”
Incumbent Caloocan Mayor Dale “Along” Malapitan was also proclaimed the city’s chief executive by the Comelec board of canvassers after topping the mayoral race. His running mate, Vice Mayor Karina Teh, also won.
Malapitan bested four other candidates, including former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
In the lead
As of 10:53 a.m. on Tuesday, data from the Comelec showed Malapitan in the lead with 266,789 votes.
In Pasig City, Vico Sotto was officially declared the winner in the mayoral race. Like Belmonte, he will serve his third and final term.
“We’re very thankful for their renewed trust, renewed mandate —a fresh mandate,” Sotto said in an ambush interview.
With over 98 percent of the votes counted, Sotto had 345,375 compared to his rival, Sara Discaya, who only got 24,163.
Institutionalized reforms
“It’s three years; we will strengthen the changes and reforms—we need to ensure that it will be institutionalized,” Sotto said.
“Meaning to say, we should make sure that the next leaders of Pasig will ensure that it will be harder to do bad things and be corrupt and easier to be good,” he added.
Sotto’s running mate, Dodot Jaworski, was also proclaimed as the city’s vice mayor after receiving 237,117 votes, beating Iyo-Caruncho Bernardo, who got 58,841 votes.
Incumbent Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval also secured a second term and was formally declared the winner at the Malabon City Hall session hall.
She was first elected as Malabon mayor in 2022.
Partial and unofficial returns had Sandoval garnering 92,621 votes compared to her opponent, Jaye Lacson-Noel, who received 50,409 votes.
The other incumbent mayors in Metro Manila who also won their reelection bids are San Juan City’s Francis Zamora, Navotas’ John Rey Tiangco, Mandaluyong City’s Menchie Abalos, Pasay City’s Emi Calixto-Rubiano, Valenzuela City’s Wes Gatchalian, and Taguig City’s Lani Cayetano. —with reports from Jan Escosio and PNA
