ORMOC CITY , Philippines — There is no turning back for Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez (4th district, Leyte) and husband-actor Richard “Goma” Gomez, who together with their complete Liberal Party slate, filed their certificates of candidacy yesterday.
“This time, I am entering the political arena with eyes wide open,” said the reelectionist Lucy who was the first one to congressional candidate to file a CoC at the Leyte Provincial Comelec Office in Tacloban City. She and Goma went straight to the Comelec upon arrival at the airport from Manila.
Goma filed his CoC for the mayoralty post of Ormoc, along with his running mate Carmelo “Toto Leo” Locsin, Jr., 38, youngest son of former solons Carmelo and Vicky Locsin. Toto Leo was Lucy’s classmate in the elementary at the St. Peter’s College.
With Goma and Toto Leo were their bets for the City Council: Incumbent Councilors Roland Villasencio and Mario Rodriguez, and lawyer Benjamin “Bennet” Pongos, Tommy Serafica, Dr. Gerry Penserga, Emma Fiel-Fragata, Dr. Gregorio Yrastorza III, Erlinda Sacay, Lucy’s brother-in-law Vince Rama and Lucy’s congressional in-charge Lito Cotiangco,
After the CoC filing, the group traveled to Ormoc and there, together with Lucy’s parents and siblings, attended mass at the St. Peter and Paul Parish Church and later proceeded to the City Comelec Office.
LP supporters, garbed in yellow shirts, also filled the church and even spilled over outside, reportedly to show their support and confidence on their candidates.
Lucy and Richard, however, skirted commenting on the news that former party mate Marcos “Macoy” Larrazabal is running for mayor again with incumbent Councilor Claudio Larrazabal as running mate. The couple said the election is a democratic process and it will be the voters who choose their candidates in the end.
On the other hand, the Codilla camp has been reportedly preparing to file their CoCs, with either Edward "Ondo" Codilla or Eufrocino Codilla Sr. to run for mayor against Goma. Incumbent Mayor Eric Codilla was reported to be running against Lucy.
In Kananga town, Lucy's brother Matt Torres will run against Mayor Elmer Codilla, another Codilla sibling. Matt said he and his complete slate will file their CoCs on Wednesday, October 3. (FREEMAN)