Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday apologized for losing her cool on social media and putting her name on health kits distributed to residents, promising to “do better.”
Belmonte thanked frontliners of the city, which has the highest number of Covid-19 cases, and vowed to improve services amid the pandemic, before taking the opportunity to say sorry.
“First, I sincerely apologize for losing my composure on social media. You are correct that all the projects implemented by the QC government belong to you, as they are funded by your taxes. When I was elected as Mayor, I was given the honor and privilege to serve all QC residents, regardless of political affiliation. Pero alam kong isang malaking pagkakamali na nakapag-post ako ng mga salitang taliwas dito. Inaamin ko po na nagkamali ako,” she said.
Official Statement from Mayor Joy Belmonte 3 April 2020 Dear QC residents: As we end the third week of this enhanced...
Posted by Quezon City Government on Friday, April 3, 2020
“Second, I apologize for distributing health kits branded with ‘Joy Para Sa Bayan.’ While it is true that my team used leftover donated bags from the previous campaign and that they were the most readily available bags on the first day of ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), it is clear that this was highly insensitive given the circumstances. Inaamin ko po na nagkamali ako.”
Belmonte had drawn flak on social media for her response to complaints about her handling of the Covid-19 response.
“To those who hate me, you are under no obligation to accept any of my projects – housing, education, healthcare, social benefits. That means there will be more for those who truly have faith in me as their leader,” she said on Facebook in March.
“But please just show your hatred for me at the polls in 2022 because the people who want to be served and patiently wait for it don’t deserve for their lives and that of their families to be politicized,” she added. (PressONE.ph)