Gomez twits opponents for spreading 'lies'

MANILA, Philippines - Richard Gomez, who is seeking the congressional seat in the fourth district of Leyte, which includes Ormoc City where his wife Lucy Torres comes from, has twitted his opponents, saying “they are building up a history of lies” by spreading the lie that he has been disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Gomez said this “lie” was released in a local newspaper known to be sympathetic to the ruling Codilla clan. The report, he said, quoted Edwin Codilla, youngest brother of his contender, Eufrocino “Winnie” Codilla Jr., as saying that the Comelec has already disqualified him (Gomez).

Gomez said the Comelec has yet to hand down its verdict, saying, “Maghintay na lang tayo (Let’s just wait),” as the Comelec is expected to resolve all disqualification cases filed all over the country by the end of January, to finalize the printing of ballots.

Gomez said his opponents might have read a book on political strategies that suggests that if a rival is doing well, destroy him at all costs.

This, he said, includes “building up a history of lies.” “If they can do this to the people, what more can they do?” he asked.

Gomez said this is because he leads by a large margin over his opponent, Winnie Codilla, in various surveys.

“Even in their own surveys, that is why they want me out before election because they are not sure of winning,” he said, adding that’s why they are “preempting the Comelec decision.”

He also pooh-poohed the issue on his community tax certificate (CTC) being obtained by a “bodyguard,” saying it was not even an issue raised in the disqualification case filed by Buenaventura Juntilla, a former chairman of Libertad village and known to be a close friend of Winnie Codilla.

Gomez said even the CTC issue has proven to be a web of lies, with one Peter Ablen being dragged as the one who got his CTC.

Peter Ablen, a hotel chef, has surfaced and has denied that he is connected in any way with Gomez.

Ablen said he was at the barangay hall of Canadieng on the day when Gomez’s alleged bodyguard got the CTC, but that he was there for another purpose.

While Ablen said he does not want to make any enemies, he just wanted to clear his name, explaining that he did not like his brush with fame.

Ablen said he was getting exasperated of friends coming up to him or calling him up, asking how he became Gomez’s “bodyguard.”

Gomez said he deduces that his opponents would allegedly want to condition the minds of the public though apparent “black propaganda.”

In fact, he said, his people are telling him that key Codilla supporters are allegedly showing around “papers” said to be the Comelec resolution, but do not allow people to take a close look at these.

He said his detractors have been painting a negative image of him, including rumors that President Joseph Estrada dislikes him and has ordered local allies to do all it takes to defeat him.

San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, son of Estrada, has laughed off the matter as “black propaganda.”

“Black propaganda lang ‘yan, pare (That’s just black propaganda),” he told Gomez in a cell phone conversation.

Ejercito also gave the assurance that he would let his father straighten out the issue, if he must.

Gomez said he was even with the Estradas last Dec. 26 to attend JV Ejercito’s birthday.

He added that while he is running under Noynoy Aquino’s Liberal Party, it does not mean that he is no longer a friend of the Estradas. “We’re good friends, and will remain good friends,” he said.