Leyte Congressman Richard Gomez Faces Disqualification Over Fake News Allegations

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In an unexpected twist in Philippine politics, a petition has been lodged seeking the disqualification of Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez from the upcoming May 12 midterm elections. The allegation, brought by Ramon's Oñate, a mayoral candidate in Palompon, claims Gomez spread false and alarming information on his official social media account.

 

The petition, spanning 25 pages, accuses Gomez of posting content on his Facebook page that warned of significant election misconduct in Palompon. This content, the petition argues, was designed to disrupt the electoral process and create voter confusion. A key piece of evidence in the petition is a video from the radio programme "Krusada sa Radyo," which Gomez allegedly reposted, amplifying the claims of misconduct.

 

 

 

Oñate underscores his concern that such activities could skew the election results and requests that any votes for Gomez be rendered invalid. Furthermore, he asks for the suspension of any electoral victory declaration in Gomez’s favour until the case is conclusively resolved.

 

As the election date approaches, the Commission on Elections faces the urgent task of addressing these allegations to ensure the integrity of the democratic process in Leyte. The outcome could set a significant precedent for handling election-related misinformation in the country, reported Philippine News Agency.

 

-- 2025-03-17