Richard Gomez speaks about the issue with the fencing chief.
Leyte Representative Richard Gomez aired his side on the issues and allegations involving Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) president Rene Gacuma.
Previously, Philippine Fencing Association president Rene Gacuma claimed that Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez had allegedly physically attacked and insulted him during the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Gomez physically and verbally abused Gacuma, as per the report, and might face possible legal complaints.
In a letter to the Philippine delegation chef de mission Raul Canlas, Gacuma said that the incident on Tuesday, December 16, at the Fashion Island Shopping Mall in Bangkok, was due to the replacement of fencer Alexa Larrazabal.
The 59-year-old Gomez, a director of the PFA and the second vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, is also competing in the SEA Games as a sporting clays athlete and even won a silver medal in the team event.
Shortly after the issue erupted online, Goma spoke and confirmed that he was the person in the video. He admitted to doing the ungentlemanly deed, but he explained what prompted him to react that way.
He was mad over the decision to replace a top-ranking athlete in the competition. He questioned why the federation pulled out its top-ranked fencer at the last minute and replaced her with the No. 3-ranked athlete at a major international competition.
The give reasons saying he supposedly wasn’t training or wasn’t showing up, but doubted this, as how can they know it if they are not even in Ormoc, where the athlete is based.
“I’ll not say sorry dahil mali ang ginawa nila. Tinanggal nila ang opportunity ng bata na maglaro sa SEA Games, tinanggal nila ang opportunity ng bata na magkaroon ng medalya, sinayang nila ang pondo ng gobyerno,” Gomez said firmly.
He believes that everyone can complain, but for him, he will not apologize for what they did was wrong. He reacted that way as an athlete and official of the sports association, and not as a congressman.
“Everybody has a right to complain. Eh di hayaan mo siya mag-complain. I’ll not say sorry because masama ang ginawa nila. Ang paggalit ko sa kanya hindi bilang congressman, nagalit ako sa kanya bilang atleta at bilang opisyal ng sports association,” he said.
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