Richard Gomez: Don’t be misled by Kerwin Espinosa

Reelected Leyte 4th District Richard Gomez (right) is warning the public against believing presumptive Albuera, Leyte Mayor and confessed drug lord Rolan ‘Kerwin’ Espinosa’s claims he would rid the town of illegal drugs. — File photo by Roel T. Amazona and from Richard Gomez/Facebook

TACLOBAN CITY – Reelected Rep. Richard Gomez of Leyte’s fourth district has called on the people not to be deceived by claims of confessed drug lord and now Mayor-elect Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa of Albuera town to rid his hometown of illegal drugs.

“We’ve been here for a long time. Do you still believe in statements like that?” said the actor-turned-politician in an interview after he was proclaimed winner in the race for congressman of his district on Wednesday, May 14.

Gomez secured a second term after defeating former Court of Appeals justice Vicente Sofronio Veloso by more than 47,000 votes.

He appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to support his ongoing efforts to combat illegal drugs in Leyte’s fourth district.

“I am asking President Marcos and the (PNP) to help strengthen our peace and order programs in the district and to continue our fight against illegal drugs, especially now,” Gomez said.

“That’s what I will ask of the President and the PNP. We cannot afford to be lenient. We cannot turn a blind eye. We will continue our campaign. We will strengthen it, and we will fight hard,” he added.

Gomez alleged that drug money had circulated in the district during the campaign in an attempt to unseat him.

The fourth district of Leyte comprises Ormoc City and six towns, including Albuera, which was previously considered the drug capital of Eastern Visayas.

Espinosa, who previously admitted involvement in the illegal drugs trade, was once identified — along with his late father, Rolando Espinosa — as a drug lord during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Espinosa has since vowed to prioritize efforts to eliminate illegal drugs in his town, saying he knew the ill-effects of narcotics and do not want to replicate it.

But Gomez was skeptical and did not believe Espinosa’s claim.

“Let’s not be fooled by those who deceive us,” he said.

Gomez thanked his constituents for reelecting him, saying he believes they were satisfied with his performance over the past three years.

“The people believe in the work we do and how we do it. They’ve seen it. When you’re in office, you have to make sure your work is done properly,” he said.

“Because come next elections, you’ll be asking for their votes again to bring you back to office,” he added.

Aside from strengthening peace and order and addressing illegal drugs, Gomez said he also aims to attract more investors to the district to create more jobs and improve the local economy.

Gomez, during the proclamation, was joined by his wife, reelected Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez and their daughter Juliana, among others. /das