Fresh from a decisive reelection, Fourth District Rep. Richard Gomez has asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the Philippine National Police to reinforce his district’s anti-drug operations, saying the fight cannot pause now.
Gomez issued the appeal on Wednesday, May 14, moments after the provincial board proclaimed his 177,483-vote victory over former appellate justice Vicente Sofronio “Ching” Veloso, who secured 130,415 votes. The 47,000-vote margin underscored voter support for the actor-turned-lawmaker’s peace-and-order agenda.
He noted that drug money allegedly flowed during the bruising campaign. He insisted the district, which covers Ormoc City and six nearby towns, could not return to its old reputation as the drug capital of Eastern Visayas.
District drug fight front and center
Gomez said he would formally request additional police manpower, improved intelligence funding, and sustained judicial coordination. He stressed that the crackdown must expand because the drug trade mutates quickly and taints local politics.
The call follows the election of Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa as mayor of Albuera, a town once infamous for narcotics. Espinosa, who previously admitted drug involvement during the Duterte administration, campaigned on a promise to wipe out illegal substances. Gomez expressed doubt, saying longtime residents should not be fooled by convenient pledges.
Still, he added, every official must cooperate. He plans to convene mayors, police chiefs, and barangay leaders next month to map a unified strategy anchored on prevention, rehabilitation, and relentless raids.
Voters reward performance
Supporters packed the Palo session hall for the proclamation. Gomez thanked constituents for validating what he described as three years of hands-on service. He cited infrastructure upgrades, scholarship grants, and quick disaster response as proof that policies, not theatrics, earn trust.
He added that credible work today safeguards electoral support tomorrow. Voters, he said, will always measure leaders by concrete output, not promises.
Gomez aims to pair tougher policing with fresh investment incentives. He will pitch tax breaks and logistics improvements to attract manufacturers and agritech firms. More jobs, he argued, mean fewer recruits for drug syndicates.
During the ceremony, he stood beside his wife, reelected Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, and their daughter Juliana. The family’s united front signaled continuing collaboration between city hall and the district office on public-safety bills and economic projects.
Political analysts say Gomez’s second-term mandate, coupled with an allied city council, gives him leverage in Manila when pressing for national resources. However, they warn that sustained success will depend on transparent spending and measurable crime reductions.
For now, Gomez remains focused: the drug war, he insists, must intensify before cartels regroup. With full precinct results in, he believes the district has spoken clearly — peace and growth must advance together.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.