Rep. Gomez unfazed by Veloso move to run for Congress
ORMOC CITY – Representative Richard I. Gomez has welcomed the move of former Court of Appeals Associate Justice Vicente “Ching” Veloso III who is reportedly planning to run for Congress in the fourth district of Leyte next year.
Gomez said he is not fazed by the reported plan of Veloso to join the congressional race in the 2025 midterm elections.
The current congressman of the fourth district said this recent development would not deter him from serving and protecting the people of his district.
“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.
He also said: “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.”
“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 ran 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 explained.
The congressman also claimed that there have been rampant killings reported in Leyte’s third district.
It was reported that at least four village officials had been killed in February that prompted the military to join the local police conducting intensified anti-criminality operations in the third congressional district.
In last year’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, two towns in the third district were classified as areas of concern by the Regional Joint Security Control Center following the spate of shooting incidents.
“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.