Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte is seeking reelection in the May 2022 polls under the Serbisyo sa Bayan Party, along with her running mate Vice Mayor Gian Carlo Sotto.
The two incumbent officials filed their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections office yesterday at Centris, Quezon City.
Belmonte, daughter of former mayor and House speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., served as the city’s vice mayor since 2010 before defeating then Rep. Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo in the 2019 mayoralty election.
Belmonte will be pitted against Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, who is running in tandem with Councilor Winston Castelo.
“It is with a great sense of honor and humility that I officially filed my certificate of candidacy to seek a second term as mayor of Quezon City,” Belmonte said in a statement.
“I hope and pray that our beloved QCitizens will once again entrust me with the stewardship of our great city. With your kind support, we can continue the strong momentum we have gained in terms of programs and projects, particularly jumpstarting the economy and creating better livelihood opportunities. My other priority includes housing and security of land tenure for our QCitizens, as part of the overall 14-point agenda that our administration has outlined,” she added.
Meanwhile, more entertainment celebrities are joining the local race in Quezon City.
Actor and television host Bobby Andrews is running for councilor in District 4 while actor-turned-politician Rep. Alfred Vargas is seeking a comeback in the city council to represent District 5.
Actor Arjo Atayde will compete against incumbent District 1 Rep. Peter Anthony “Onyx” Crisologo while television host Joseph Peter Sison is running for a legislative seat in District 4 against incumbent Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay and ex-councilor Marvin Rillo.
Vito Sotto, the grandson of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, also filed his certificate of candidacy for councilor in District 6.