Congressman Richard Gomez and Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez were re-elected in Leyte’s 4th District and Ormoc City, respectively. (Photo courtesy of Lucy Torres-Gomez’s official Facebook page)
The power couple secured reelection in Leyte’s 4th District and Ormoc City during the 2025 Philippine midterm elections, amid a campaign controversy involving Albuera mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa.
ORMOC CITY, LEYTE – Representative Richard Gomez and Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez were both re-elected in the 2025 Philippine midterm elections, maintaining their leadership roles in Leyte’s 4th District and Ormoc City.
Richard Gomez Wins Second Term as 4th District Representative
Congressman Richard Gomez secured his second term in the House of Representatives after defeating former Court of Appeals Justice Vicente Sofronio “Ching” Veloso. Gomez received 163,188 votes, while Veloso earned 121,615, based on official results from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
Since entering Congress in 2022, Gomez has authored and co-authored legislation focused on rural infrastructure, tourism development, education access, and anti-drug initiatives. During his term, he supported national housing programs in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and pushed for the expansion of farm-to-market roads across western Leyte. As a former mayor of Ormoc, Gomez also contributed to peace and order efforts that reportedly reduced drug-related incidents in the district.
Lucy Torres-Gomez Re-elected as Ormoc Mayor
Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez was also re-elected, receiving 90,153 votes and defeating opponent Violy Codilla, who garnered 51,791 votes. Her local slate, the Ormoc Development Team, also won a clean sweep of city council seats.
Torres-Gomez previously served three terms as district representative before assuming the mayoralty in 2022. Under her leadership, Ormoc City implemented digital governance reforms, upgraded health and education services, and expanded local livelihood programs. Her administration also secured national funding for flood mitigation infrastructure, including drainage and riverbank projects following the city’s history of typhoon-related disasters.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recovery period, she oversaw city-wide vaccination rollouts, food distribution efforts, and small business support measures. Her administration prioritized infrastructure, urban cleanliness, and public safety through multi-sectoral partnerships.
Campaign-Related Disqualification Case in Albuera
A separate campaign-related incident occurred in Albuera, a town within the same district. On April 30, 2025, Albuera mayoral candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa livestreamed a Facebook video in which he challenged Congressman Gomez to a gunfight. He suggested police and military personnel act as referees and proposed legal waivers between the parties.
On May 6, 2025, Mayor Torres-Gomez filed a disqualification petition against Espinosa before COMELEC. The complaint cited Sections 68(e) and 261(e) of the Omnibus Election Code, related to threats, coercion, and election-related intimidation.
Despite the disqualification case, Espinosa was proclaimed the winner in Albuera, earning 10,939 votes. Vince Rama received 7,081, while incumbent Mayor Sixto Dela Victoria received 2,761 votes. As of this report, COMELEC has not issued a final ruling on the disqualification petition.
Leyte’s 4th District and Ormoc City
Ormoc City, located along the western coast of Leyte, is a major urban center in the Eastern Visayas region. It plays a central role in regional trade, agriculture, and power generation, particularly through the Tongonan Geothermal Field. With a population of over 230,000, Ormoc is the second-largest city in the province, following Tacloban.
Leyte’s 4th District includes Ormoc and adjacent municipalities, and is considered a strategic area for infrastructure and agricultural development. Both Gomez and Torres-Gomez have prioritized flood control, digital modernization, and public safety in their respective jurisdictions.
