spot_img
28.6 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

Joy anoints Gian as next VM

- Advertisement -

QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte is strongly endorsing District 3 Councilor Gian Carlo Sotto as the “only choice” to succeed her in 2019.

At the launch of the Super Health Assistance Card for solo parents in District 4 Wednesday afternoon, Belmonte called on the voters in the area to support Sotto, saying he is the perfect bet to succeed her.

“I am asking for a little of your help and support. People have asked me, ‘Vice, you are our next mayor, but we have yet to think it over who to choose as vice mayor. But I have told them not to have a second thought [of who to support],’” she told the 800 single parents who joined the event at the Amoranto Theater on Scout Chuatoco Street.

“Batman is nothing without Robin; in the same way I am nothing without Gian,” she said.

Belmonte, who has declared her bid for the mayoralty in 2019, said she consulted former District 4 councilor Jesus Emmanuel “Bong” Suntay as to who should be her running mate in the coming local elections.

- Advertisement -

“We came up with the same conclusion—to choose Gian,” added the daughter of former QC Mayor and House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr.

Gian Carlo Sotto

She took pride in saying Sotto is “too humble, even if he comes from a very prominent and famous family.”

“First of all, he is handsome. Wouldn’t you want to work with someone like him?” she teased the crowd.

“Gian is a cousin of [megastar] Sharon Cuneta and sister of Ciara, who was the former girlfriend of John Lloyd Cruz. You see I know about that [issue]. He is the relative of Senator [Francis] Kiko [Pangilinan], Oyo Boy and Pauleen Luna, the godson [and nephew] of Bossing [Vic Sotto], [and] the cousin-in-law of Kristine Hermosa. Saan ka pa [Where else will you look]?” she said.

Despite his pedigree, the young Sotto has never been arrogant and has always been very humble at work and in dealing with his constituents, Belmonte said.

Meanwhile, Suntay spearheaded the launch of an expanded benefit program for single parents in District 4 from his own personal funds, the first of its kind in Quezon City.

He pledged to help the district’s 1,790 single parents duly registered with the city government’s Social Services and Development through a voluntary cash grant of P3,000 each to foot their 10-day stay in a hospital or any medical clinic in Metro Manila within one year, as well as the 10-day hospitalization of any of their minor children or dependent.

The registered single parents, colloquially called “Nay-Tay,” were issued tamper-proof SHAC cards.

According to Belmonte, Suntay is running unopposed for a congressional seat in District 4.

“He does not have to do this. He is running alone,” the vice mayor said.

Sources from the City Council said three-termer District 4 Councilor Marvin Rillo is no longer interested to join the congressional race in 2019 opposite Suntay.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles