Leyte Fourth District Rep. Richard Gomez aired his frustrations as he urged an House inquiry regarding the alleged case of bullying and abuse of a Filipina fencer in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last December.

In his privilege speech Tuesday, Jan. 27, Gomez, former president and now board member of the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA), claimed that current fencing chief Rene Gacuma and national team coach Amat Canlas had “violated so many rules” in both of the PFA and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

“I acknowledge the concerns regarding how I responded to Mr. Gacuma's interaction with me, but let me take this opportunity to explain my side and expose the truth,” said Gomez.

“Tayo mga Pilipino ay likas na mapagpasensya. Ngunit, kapag may mali, hindi dapat pinapalampas. Kapag may abuso, hindi dapat pinagtatakpan,” he added.

“What the Philippine Fencing Association, or the PFA, under the leadership of its president, Mr. Rene Gacuma, and its national head coach, Mr. Ronaldo Amacanlas, did to Ms. Alexa Larrazabal on December 15, 2025, was not the first case of bullying an athlete and abuse of power inflicted on Filipino fencers. This was far from an isolated case.”

According to Gomez, Gacuma and Canlas replaced ranked No.1 Alexa Larrazabal with No. 3 Hannie Abella in the women’s individual epee lineup which the 59-year-old solon stressed as a dishonor to the Fencing 205 Handbook.

The PFA stated that Larrazabal had committed unauthorized absences in training in the last few months before the biennial meet on Thai soil and also a failure to submit required documents including her visa.

Gomez, however, reiterated that if the allegations were true, there must be a formal hearing, which is mandated by the PFA handbook.

“In my over 30 years of experience in playing and supporting the sport of fencing in the Philippines, this had never been done, by replacing the No. 1 one player at the very last hours before the event,” Gomez stressed.

The replacement had earlier been endorsed by Gacuma upon the recommendation of Canlas during a mandatory team managers’ meeting last Dec. 15, where the move was reviewed and validated by PFA directors who gave their approval – claims that Gomez said were false and still in violation of the rules.

“Mr. Gacuma also misled the media by saying that there was a PFA Board of Directors meeting that approved the replacement of Ms. Lara Zaval. Again, even if there was a PFA Board of Directors meeting, they are still not authorized to replace the number one player,” Gomez continued.

“What is more concerning is that I know for a fact that no meeting transpired on December 14, 2025. Why? Because I am a member of the fencing board. There was no resolution approving such replacement,” he added

Gomez, a SEAG multi-medalist and recent podium finisher in shooting event, said he and Larrazabal’s parents had filed separate complaints citing oppression, favoritism, conflict of interest, serious misconduct, and grave abuse of authority by Gacuma and Canlas.

“It is now time to enact a law that seeks to impose stricter penalties such as immediate suspension, removal from office, permanent disqualification from sports governance, and revocation of licenses on officials of national sports associations found guilty of grave abuse of authority, oppression, favoritism, serious misconduct, and conflict of interest,” said Gomez.

“There should also be a law that establishes clear regulatory standards for national sports associations and effective government oversight to ensure the protection of our athletes and the integrity of Philippine sports,” he concluded.

It can be remembered that Gacuma filed charges against Gomez of physical and verbal abuse in their public spat at Fashion Island, a fencing venue, last Dec. 16.