MANILA, Philippines — Pinuri ni Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte ang mga kandidato at botante matapos mairaos ang isang mapayapang Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) sa lungsod.
Kaugnay nito, hinamon din ni Belmonte ang mga nanalo at natalong kandidato na magkaisa na lamang para sa ikabubuti ng lahat ngayong tapos na ang halalan.
“Congratulations to everybody who participated in this democratic exercise - whether as candidates or as voters. Yes critics, democracy is alive and well in the Philippines, the elections are over. The people have spoken. Let the work of building The Future begin,” dagdag pa ni Belmonte.
Ayon kay National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) director Camilo Cascolan, naging tahimik at maayos ang isinagawang eleksyon sa Metro Manila, kabilang na ang Quezon City, sa kabila ng napabalitang vote-buying sa Brgy. Bagbag, Novaliches at Katipunan.
Mula umaga hanggang sa pagtatapos ng bilangan, masusing binantayan ni Belmonte ang halalan. Bumoto siya sa UP Integrated School sa Brgy. Kristong Hari kamakalawa ng tanghali.
Ayon kay Belmonte, naging mahigpit ang labanan sa ibang barangay at naramdaman niya aniya ang tamis ng tagumpay at pait ng pagkatalo ng maraming kandidato.
“But winning this very gruelling election is only the beginning of the real battle; that is the battle against poverty, corruption, drugs, inequality - the battle against all the things that keep our people from achieving a higher quality of life, because at the end of the day, all those who want to serve should still be given the chance to serve, in whatever capacity. Every ounce of sweat matters when we’re up against a challenge as great as that of lifting our people up from the rubble,” dagdag pa ni Belmonte.