Echiverri is new Caloocan City mayor

Former Caloocan city Rep. Enrico ‘Recom’ Echiverri (KNP) has bested rivals Edgar Erice, Gwendolyn Malonzo and Macario "Boy" Asistion in the Caloocan City mayoralty race.

As of presstime last night, Echiverri is awaiting proclaimation by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Official partial Comelec results as of 12:05 p.m. yesterday, showed Echiverri leading by some 50,000 votes against his closest rival.

Edgar Erice, Liberal Party’s mayoralty bet, has already conceded to Echiverri some three days after the elections and two days after the canvassing began.

Echiverri, a two-term representative for Caloocan’s second district, is pushing for a strong reform program in Caloocan City. He also promised a new leadership style that would bring the city to new prominence.

"I thank you all for believing in me and for trusting in my leadership. Stay with me as I lead you into a new direction, a new vision of success. Together, we will reform Caloocan and bring it to even greater heights," Echiverri said as he appealed to his opponents to set aside politics for now.

"Now that the people has spoken, I give my hand in friendship and urge you to get in the act with me for the progress of our city. I am also hoping for a smooth turnover and change in government. Rest assured that the best is yet to come," Echiverri said.

Meanwhile, even with his commanding lead over former city mayor Reynaldo Malonzo (Lakas-CMD) in the vote-rich first district, former Vice Mayor Oscar Malapitan (KNP) could not be proclaimed as the district’s duly elected representative because several returns are still being contested by Malonzo’s lawyers.

Latest Comelec figures showed Malapitan has garnered 50,089 votes while Malonzo got only 33,322.

Malonzo has not thrown in the towel yet and has filed a formal protest at the Comelec, urging the poll body to declare failure of elections in Caloocan City on the grounds of "massive cheating."