TACLOBAN CITY-Actor and television host Richard F. Gomez will take his role as challenger in Leyte’s 4th district congressional race against the popular Codilla clan who have been holding the post for years and obviously an ally to many incumbent local elected officials.
Running under the Liberal Party, Mr. Gomez filed Monday afternoon his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections Leyte provincial office together with his wife commercial model Lucy Torres-Gomez, who belongs to one of the richest families in Ormoc City. Her grandfather was once a mayor of Ormoc.
In a media interview, Mr. Gomez said that he is offering himself to the people of the fourth district as an alternative from a family who has ruled the district for almost a decade.
“We want a big change for our people and in the district. I am offering myself with God at my side,” he stressed.
He claimed that his young age and media exposure, could be his advantage against his opponent, Eufrocino “Wennie” C. Codilla, Jr. who is running under the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD. He is the son of the three-termer congressman, his namesake.
Mr. Codilla, former spouse of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia filed his candidacy Monday morning said that he has a better winning chance since he is a native of Ormoc City.
“And I am true Ormocanon. My father and mother are native of Ormoc. Most of the mayors are on our side,” Mr. Codilla said.
For the actor’s part, he said: “It does not matter. What matter most is the platform of government and my intention to serve the people of the district. They have no issues against me that is why they are resorting to mudslinging and misinformation.”
It was learned from Mr. Gomez that he has a complete slate composed of six mayoralty candidates and two board member candidates, Juanito Reyes, Sr. and Mario Larrazabal, who accompanied the actor.
Among the programs that will be implemented by Mr. Gomez if he will win next year are in areas of infrastructures, education and health.
In 2004 elections, he ran under the party-list group which was disqualified by the Commission on Elections and in 2007 senatorial elections.
In Leyte’s first district, former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos’ nephew Congressman Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez will seek reelection next year. He filed his COC, 4:40 p.m., an hour after Mr. Gomez left the Comelec office.
“Local leaders here urged me to continue on what we have done in the past two and a half years and we continue to endeavor that we have set forth and more,” Mr. Romualdez said.
Yesterday morning, Lawyer Feliciano B. Clemencio formalized his bid for the congressional seat against the popular Romualdez clan member. Mr. Clemencio is also a candidate in the 2007 polls but he lost.
“We will launch a massive information drive to help people choose a candidate who is sincere,” he added.
In Tacloban City, Incumbent Mayor Afred S. Romualdez filed his CoC yesterday afternoon with his father as running mate, former Mayor Alfredo T. Romualdez. Their opponents are City Councilor Ranulfo S. Abellanosa (for mayor) and Vice Mayor Arvin V. Antoni. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)
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