Belmonte, Zamora file COCs for mayoral reelection bids

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte filed their certificate of candidacy for Eleksyon 2022 to seek a second term as mayor of their respective localities.

In a Facebook live, Zamora told reporters that he is once again seeking the trust of his constituents to continue his leadership in addressing the challenges of pandemic in the city.

He mentioned that San Juan is one of the first cities that achieved herd immunity under his leadership.

"Ako po ay umaasa na bibigyan tayo ng pagkakataon ng minamahal nating San Juaneño upang makapaglingkod bilang mayor. Lalo na ngayong pandemya," said Zamora.

(I am hoping that San Juan citizens will give me a chance to serve as a mayor especially during the pandemic.)

"Kung kaya't ako ay muling naghain ng aking COC sapagka't ang San Juan kailangan mapamunuan nang maayos upang tuluyan maitawid ang lungsod mula sa pandemyang ito," he added.

(That is why I filed COC because San Juan needs to be led by a person that will help end the pandemic.)

It can be recalled that Zamora won as mayor in 2019, beating then San Juan Vice Mayor Janelle Estrada,  daughter of former Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

His win also toppled the 49-year-rule of the Estrada family in San Juan.

Meanwhile, Belmonte is also seeking another term as QC's local chief executive. Prior to her victory in 2019, she served as the city's vice mayor for three terms.

In GMA reporter Isa Umali's tweet, Belmonte filed her COC along with Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas, who is seeking a councilor post in the 5th district of QC.

TINGNAN: Quezon City Rep. @AlfredVargasPH, naghain na ng kanyang COC para tumakbo sa pagka-konsehal ng 5th district ng QC sa #Eleksyon2022. @dzbb

????: Rep. Vargas team pic.twitter.com/M1TPrx1p9X

— Isa Avendaño-Umali (@Isa_Umali) October 5, 2021

Mass gathering

As Zamora seeks reelection to address COVID-19 pandemic, his supporters brought a marching band  to cheer for his mayoral bid.

According to GMA dzbb reporter Mark Makalalad's tweet, some supporters carried placards and posters of Zamora and other councilors who will run in next year's elections.

WATCH: Malapyestang paghahain ng COC sa San Juan na lumabag sa health protocol dahil sa kumpulan ng mga tao @COMELEC @dzbb pic.twitter.com/lPVkSf0grk

— Mark Makalalad (@MMakalalad) October 5, 2021

Some police officers who were fielded in the area allegedly failed to disperse the supporters.

Meanwhile, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez warned politicians of allowing mass gatherings during their COC filing, saying these aspirants are the ones to blame.

"The politicians who allow mass gatherings of their supporters, are the ones to blame if their pre-COC filing rallies turn out to be superspreaders," he wrote on Twitter.

The politicians who allow mass gatherings of their supporters, are the ones to blame if their pre-COC filing rallies turn out to be superspreaders.

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) October 5, 2021

 —LDF, GMA News