"Huwag nila ako idamay sa circus nila."
Ito ang naging pahayag ng aktor at ngayon ay Ormoc City
mayor na si Richard Gomez matapos madawit ang kanyang pangalan at iba
pa sa patuloy na investigation ng Criminal
investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 8 na
namuno sa raid ng selda ni Abuera, Leyte mayor Rolando
Espinosa Sr. kung saan ito ay napatay.
Sa patuloy na imbestigasyon ng CIDG at ng Senate Committee
on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs at Justice and Human Rights ngayong
Araw (November 10) hayagang pinangalanan at isinangkot ni Chief
inspector Leo Laraga ang mga high-ranking government officials sa
Leyte na kabilang diumano sa drug group ni Espinosa, at
kabilang si Goma sa mga umano’y dawit at protector ng mga
taong involved sa ilegal na droga sa bayan ng Leyte.
Samantala dumepensa naman si Mayor Richard Gomez sa issue sa
pamamagitan ng maikling text message na ipinadala niya sa Push.com.ph.
"That is ridiculous and outright laughable. I will not
even dignify that with an answer. Huwag nila ako isama sa circusnila."
Sa ngayon hangad ni Goma ang tama at malinis na proseso ng pag
iimbistiga sa kaso.
UPDATE: Nagrelease na din si Mayor Gomez ng kanyang opisyal na
pahayag tungkol sa isyu:
Official
Statement from Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez
"Controversy
is nothing new to me. As an actor in the world of show business for over 3
decades, I have had to deal with all sorts of controversy and sometimes-bad
publicity, but this is the first time that my name has been dragged into an
issue involving drugs. I initially did not want to dignify this with an answer
but given that this is politically-motivated and very malicious, I am speaking
up.
"I have
been an anti-drug advocate all my life. I spearheaded a massive anti-drug
campaign back in the 90's, way before it became a fad, before most everyone
wanted to join the bandwagon. I am sorry to disappoint my political opponents
but I have never been and I will never be involved in drugs and no one can pin
me down on an accusation so baseless and ridiculous it is almost laughable. In
fact, I ran on a very strong anti-drug platform, which the constituency
resonated with, and which got me elected as Mayor of ORMOC City, a place so
infected by drugs for many years. I also openly supported President Rodrigo Roa
Duterte during the 2016 elections precisely because of his strong and serious
stance on drugs. To fight drugs and bring change is the reason I ran, and because
the people saw how serious I was about it is the reason I won. Do not drag me
into this circus, I was never part of it. I will never be part of it. I urge
the legislators to dig deeper into this. Someone is trying to muddle the issue.
"I have
asked my lawyers to file a case against Major Jovie Espenido, a cop beholden to
my political opponents, who has attempted many times to besmirch my name. It is
unfortunate that he was assigned to Albuera, Leyte, giving him control over the
late Mayor Ealinosa, whom i am sure he prevailed upon to impute my character
and those of other equally innocent officials."