Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (right) raises the hand of Arjo Atayde (left) who filed his candidacy as congressman of the first district of Quezon City on Friday, October 8, 2021. The primary advocacies of Atayde, who is running independently, are healthcare, employment, and education especially in poverty-stricken areas of Quezon City’s first congressional district. Photo from Atayde’s team
MANILA, Philippines — Actor Arjo Atayde has formalized his entry into politics after filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) as representative of Quezon City’s first congressional district.
A photo from Atayde’s team showed incumbent Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte raising the actor’s hand after he filed his COC before the local Commission on Election (Comelec) office.
According to his campaign team, Atayde would focus on several advocacies, including the provision of healthcare services for the district’s poor areas.
“Arjo Atayde officially filed his candidacy as Congressman of the First District of Quezon City this morning,” Atayde’s team said.
“The primary advocacies of Atayde, who is running independently, are healthcare, employment, and education especially in poverty-stricken areas of Quezon City’s First District,” the team added.
Atayde, the boyfriend of viral internet star and GMA-7 artist Maine Mendoza, is just one of many celebrities making their political debuts in 2022. Earlier, local basketball star James Yap announced his candidacy as councilor in the city of San Juan.