Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor on Wednesday, May 4, criticized incumbent Quezon City (QC) Mayor Joy Belmonte for the closure of some roads in the city’s second district which will last for almost a day due to preparations for her team’s campaign activity.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 3, the public was advised by the QC local government regarding Belmonte's Serbisyo sa Bayan’s (SB) preparations for their meeting de avance on May 4, which will affect some streets in the city, namely IBP Road, Palma Street, Pook Pag-asa, and Filinvest gate.
The road closure started at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday until 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
“That’s a total of more than 21 hours, or almost one day, the period the mayor is asking motorists and commuters to bear some inconvenience and sacrifice for their rally in District 2,” said Defensor, who is running for city mayor under the Team Malayang Quezon City.
He added that the city’s second congressional district is a “bailiwick” of their team’s candidate for vice-mayor, Councilor Winnie Castelo and his wife Rep. Precious Castelo.
“Why does Mayor Belmonte want to make our supporters there suffer?” the solon asked.
He explained that his team, along with the Uniteam led by presidential aspirant former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice-presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, also held a proclamation rally in the same area last month but it only lasted for five hours.
“This 21-hour road closure is just for a local campaign. That shows you the sense of entitlement of this group and their blatant disregard for public welfare,” Defensor said.
The congressman also recalled that the city government denied their request to use an area in the Quezon City Memorial Circle (QCMC) for the Uniteam’s opening campaign rally.
He said the QCMC is a public park but the local government treats it as a private property.