ORMOC CITY -- Newly elected Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez vowed to fight illegal drugs and illegal gambling in the district.
"I'm glad that I won. Otherwise, makakalusot na naman ang problema ng (ilegal) na droga dito sa siyudad,” said Gomez, claiming that he received verified information that his opponents resorted to receiving and using drug money in the May 9, 2022 elections.
He added that he will also fight hard against illegal gambling.
"The future of the people will be destroyed. Illegal gambling is a vice that can be as destructive as (illegal) drugs. The social cost is just too high," he stressed.
He also said that vices push people to commit petty thefts, other crimes, and poverty.
"I will ask the full cooperation of the Philippine National Police to stop all forms of illegal gambling in the 4th District of Leyte," he said.
Meanwhile, the actor-turned politician also pledged to sustain the peace and order, as well as bring more development projects to the district as he has done for Ormoc.
He thanked President Duterte for his anti-illegal drug campaign, and the people who rallied behind him in making Ormoc one of the safest cities in the country, and the first drug-cleared city in the region.
Gomez and his wife, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez took their oath Tuesday, June 28, before Judge Mario Quinit, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 12 here.
He served for two terms as city mayor before he and his wife switched posts. Lucy served as congresswoman for 12 years.