Gomez unfazed by Veloso challenge in 2025
CEBU CITY — Leyte fourth district Rep. Richard Gomez was unfazed over the decision of former Court of Appeals Associate Justice Vicente “Ching” Veloso III to challenge him in the 2025 midterm elections.
GOMEZ (FB)
Gomez said Veloso’s decision to run against him will not distract him from fulfilling his responsibility to ensure the welfare of his constituents.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/12/veloso-to-challenge-gomez-in-next-year-s-polls
Veloso on Monday, March 11, transferred his voter’s registration to Isabel, Leyte and announced that he will face Gomez in next year’s election.
After filing his voter’s registration, Veloso joined a caravan and met his supporters for an open forum at the Isabel Sports Complex.
Five of the seven mayors in the fourth district joined Veloso in the caravan.
Gomez was also unfazed by the apparent support of the majority of the mayors in his district for Veloso.
“I have been opposing the illegal activities of local executives in the different municipalities of my district. That is not a crime. That is my obligation to the people of the fourth district of Leyte who elected me. It is my duty to protect them from the callous and nefarious deeds of political leaders who are more interested in pushing for their personal interests rather than the interests of their people,” Gomez said in a statement.
“Why should I seek alliance with lawbreakers just because they hold the position of ‘mayor’? With that title comes responsibility and accountability. I do not serve the mayors and their selfish, illegal interests. My duty is to uphold the common good. I will not turn a blind eye on their illegal activities in return for their allegiance. I have the people and the law behind me. I will stand for what is right.”
Gomez admitted that his relationship with some mayors in his district have been strained.
“These mayors whom I have held publicly accountable for their misdeeds, instead of manning up to their crimes, have instead opted to play politics and run to the neighboring district to find an ally to shield them from their unlawful acts and champion their questionable causes. I will not allow that and I will not be daunted,” Gomez stressed.
Gomez noted that rampant killings have been reported in the neighboring third district of Leyte, where Veloso used to serve as congressman.
Last February, the Philippine Army joined the police in intensifying anti-criminality operations in Leyte’s third congressional district following the killing of four barangay officials.
During the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, two towns in the third district were classified as areas of concern, or under “yellow” category by the Regional Joint Security Control Center, due to the spate of shooting incidents in the district.
“I will not be put down by legal bluffs and political mudslinging. I have and will continue to protect my constituents from the unlawful ways of pseudo public servants. I will not allow the fourth district of Leyte to be a criminal bedrock,” Gomez said.