Quezon City mayoralty candidate Mike Defensor challenged incumbent Mayor Joy Belmonte to a debate following the latter’s criticisms against him.
Belmonte criticized the Anakalusugan party-list lawmaker for his role in the non-renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN and in the distribution of ivermectin to fight COVID-19.
“In the spirit of fair play and to heighten voter awareness, I am inviting Mayor Joy to a debate on the issues that she raised and on other concerns that affect the future of Quezon City,” Defensor said in a statement released on Saturday.
He claimed the diatribes were Belmonte’s way “to prop up her own candidacy.”
Belmonte, who is seeking a second term in the May polls, said Defensor prioritized shutting down ABS-CBN—which is based in Quezon City which forced the company to lay off thousands of workers at the onset of the pandemic.
In a recent survey by Publicus Asia on Metro Manila mayoral races, Belmonte was still leading with 40 percent in March. However, the figure was down from her 57 percent rating in February.
Defensor, meanwhile, logged a 24 percent voter’s preference rate.
