Richard Gomez elected mayor of Ormoc City

CEBU, Philippines - For his second shot for an elective post, actor and sportsman Richard Gomez finally succeeded in the May 9 elections and was proclaimed mayor-elect of Ormoc by the City Board of Canvassers.

Gomez of the Ormoc Development Team garnered 52,713 votes to unseat Mayor Edward Codilla, while partymate Vice Mayor Toto Locsin Jr. was re-elected with 53,098 votes to edge rival Pedro Ebcas Jr.

The ODT bets who won as councilors were Rolando Villasencio, Vincent Rama, Mario Rodriguez, Tommy Serafica, Benjamin Pongos Jr., Nolito Quilang and Eusenio Gerardo Penserga. Others who won for Council seats were: Gregorio Yrastorza III, John Eulalio Nepomuceno Aparis III, and Lea Doris Villar.

Meanwhile, Gomez’s wife re-electionist 4th district Representative Lucy Torres raked in 132,565 votes to defeat Violeta Codilla, the city mayor’s wife who only got 79,852 votes.—(FREEMAN)