Lucy confirms Richard's bid for mayor

PALO, LEYTE — Representative Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez (4th district, Leyte) confirmed recently her husband, actor Richard Gomez, is running for mayor of Ormoc City in the 2013 elections.

“He is preparing to run for mayor of Ormoc. It is the political landscape that forced Richard to run. A lot of time and effort are wasted when a congresswoman like me is not allied with a mayor, like the case of Ormoc,” Gomez said at the sidelines of the oath-taking of new members of Liberal Party from her district.

“We have consulted our leaders coming from the 110 barangays of Ormoc and they pledged support for Richard’s candidacy come 2013 elections,” the lawmaker said.

Gomez, who is also seeking re-election, said it would be more efficient if she is allied with the elected mayor in her district.

“When I started, I only had one ally, who is the mayor of Palompon town. But now almost all mayors are supportive except for my home city and two others, Kananga and Merida,” Gomez said.

Gomez also confirmed alliances with former Leyte congresswoman Victoria Larrazabal-Locsin and other prominent political families in Ormoc.

Gomez first attempted to venture into politics back in 2010 when he ran for a congressional post in Leyte’s fourth district.

However, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified him from the congressional race due to his failure to meet the one-year residency requirement stipulated in the Constitution.

“I am confident that Richard would bring in a lot of progress for our city. Ormoc is like a diamond in the rough…it is a city but progress is very minimal. A lot needs to be done for Ormoc,” Gomez said.

If ever Richard runs for mayor, his strongest opponent would be former city mayor and congressman Eufrocino Codilla Sr.

Meanwhile, the Codillas said they are not intimidated by the actor’s entry into the city’s political landscape.

“This is a free country. Anybody could run for mayor. It’s the people who will decide anyway,” incumbent Ormoc City Mayor Eric Codilla said. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)