MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Richard Gomez of Ormoc City, president of the Philippine Fencing Association and a national athlete in his youth, declined the position of Philippine Olympic Committee secretary general offered him by POC president Bambol Tolentino.
Instead, Gomez accepted the post of deputy sec-gen “since its responsibilities are lighter.”
“I couldn’t accept the work (of a sec-gen) because my work as mayor of Ormoc entails a lot of time,” said Gomez, admitting though that the offer was tempting.
“We must set our priorities right,” he said. “Full time work and responsibility ang sec-gen which means I will have to stay in Manila most of the time. As deputy sec-gen, I do the work of sec-gen only if he is not there, and to assist him.”
Tolentino made the offer during the POC meeting yesterday.
Gomez served as chef de mission of the Philippine delegation to the 2014 Asian Beach Games and the 2018 Asian Games where Filipino athletes brought home four gold, two silver and 15 bronze medals.