ORMOC CITY – Actor and current Mayor Richard Gomez has said that his wife, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, may run for a higher post in the upcoming national and local elections.
This was Gomez’ revelation in an exclusive interview with The Manila Bulletin Tuesday, May 4.
Gomez made the disclosure when he was initially asked about his future political plans, particularly a potential shot at national politics.
"For now it is not in my plans. Kailangan ko muna ayusin 'tong Ormoc at 'yung district namin so dito muna ako magfofocus (I need to put things in order in Ormoc and our district so I'm focusing here)," he shared.
However, the mayor said that his wife, who has been constantly among the leaders in different senatorial surveys, is not ruling out a run for a senate seat.
"Kung maganda 'yung survey niya at susuportahan siya ng buong Region 8 o ng Visayan Region malaking bagay (If her surveys are good and the whole Region 8 or Visayas region supports her, it would be a major consideration)," Gomez said.
Gomez said he sees a need for their region to have someone in the senate although he refused to dwell on the potential senatorial campaign of his wife.
"It is essential na may (that we have a) senator tayo from the Visayas to promote our funding for infrastructure and programs," said Gomez.
In a previous interview, Gomez said their most likely political strategy is for him to gun for his wife’s congressional seat. Lucy would then aim to become Ormoc’s next mayor come 2022.
At the moment, Gomez said he would support whatever plans Lucy have as far as her political future is concerned.
"What she wants is where she could serve best. We're still thinking about it and I am just here to support whatever her decision is," Gomez said.
The 50-year-old Gomez, who won his first-ever election campaign in 2016 by claiming this city’s mayoral seat, placed 25th during the 2007 senatorial elections.
Previous to that, he was nominated by Mamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD), the partylist group that was eventually disqualified during the 2001 election.
Gomez was again disqualified as congressional candidate due to residency issues in 2010 then lost by a slim margin in the Ormoc City mayoralty race in 2013. He is now on his second term as mayor of this city after winning his re-election bid in 2019.