No doubt, the 2022 elections is already in the air.

On Thursday, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte became a victim of a black propaganda using fake social media posts coming one after another.

The first post, a copy of which I myself was sent by a friend, showed a purported photo of the lady mayor ‘congratulating’ Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

With the huge picture of Belmonte’s face as the backdrop and the words, ‘’Maraming Salamat Hidilyn Diaz’ and the mayor’s name under it, a microscopic picture of the victorious Diaz was placed on the right bottom corner, apparently to make it appear that Belmonte was using Hidilyn to promote herself.

Already, some irresponsible netizens shared or reposted the said photo that included their nasty comments.

Subsequently, another post circulated on social media. This time around, again purportedly, Belmonte was denying that the photo of her and Hidilyn together was fake and in it, she was also attacking Diaz.

The post, which again contained Belmonte’s picture, was titled, ‘Joy Belmonte on Hidilyn Diaz congratulatory issue.’

In it, she was quoted as supposedly having stated, thus: “Fake news po and kumakalat na Congratulatory Poster, dahil una po sa lahat hindi naman i-ccongrats si Hidilyn Diaz bakit ano bang ambag niya dito sa Quezon City diba?” The post was made under the account was ‘Nagmahal. Nasaktan. NagSelfie.’

Belmonte was of course shocked and thus immediately issued a statement also on social media. It read in part: “While it is true that I join the rest of the country in celebrating the historic Olympic gold medal win of Hidilyn Diaz, it is absolutely untrue that the fake ‘congratulatory message’ using my picture (and now circulating online) came from me, or anyone from the Quezon City government.

In a way, it is somewhat understandable that as the elections draw nearer, malicious individuals will sadly engage in more black propaganda and smear campaigns. Pero sana naman po, hindi niyo na dinamay si Hidilyn Diaz upang gumawa ng kasinungalingan at siraan ako. Nagkaisa ang buong bansa dahil sa karangalang ibinigay niya sa bawat Pilipino, ngunit ginamit ninyo ito para sa masamang pamumulitika. ‘Foul’ po ang tawag diyan.

In the meantime, let us all continue to unite behind the spirit and ideals that Hidilyn exemplified, as she symbolically lifted an entire country last July 26: diligence, determination, patriotism, and the will and passion to achieve her dreams. Mabuhay ka, Hidilyn! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas, at Mabuhay po tayong lahat!”

I heard that the camp of Mayor Belmonte already has an idea of who was behind the dastardly act but that they lack solid proof to establish if their suspicion is correct.

Just the same, the good mayor says she is leaving it all up to God and will not allow any form of black propaganda get in the way of her work specially now that the residents of Quezon City need a strong city government in the wake of the pandemic.

The Quezon City government had been doing very well in terms of dealing with the problems brought on by the pandemic. Its mass vaccination program is also very efficient and Belmonte does not run out of ways to innovate to vaccinate as many as possible.

What was done to Mayor Belmonte was totally a cheap shot. Obviously, those behind it are already looking at the 2022 elections wherein the lady chief executive is expected to be a frontrunner once she seeks reelection which she is likely to do.

If the mayor’s political rivals cannot play clean, what can the residents expect from them when they get what they want? What would stop them if they already hold the reins of government?

I hope that the residents of Quezon City are not stupid enough to fall for these kinds of low blow.

***

Jokjok (from Darwin Felicidad of Mandaluyong City)— Customer: Waiter! Bakit ang tagal ng order ko? Ilan ba ang cook nyo dito?/Waiter: Ay! Sir, wala pu kame cuk dito. Pipse lang po!

***

Direct Hit entertains comments, suggestions or complaints. Please have them emailed to [email protected] or text 0919-0608558.