By Elvie Roman-Roa, Joey A. Gabieta
Inquirer Visayas
Lucy Torres-Gomez has started campaigning for the congressional seat in the fourth district of Leyte even if the Commission on Elections has yet to decide if she will be allowed to replace her husband, actor
Richard Gomez, whom the poll body had disqualified.
The model-cum-television host began campaigning as a candidate Thursday night, an hour after Richard announced his decision to accept the Comelec's first division’s decision to disqualify him over the lack of residency issue but would instead want to be substituted by his wife, a native of Ormoc.
Lawyer Edgardo Cordeno, the Gomez couple’s legal counsel, said Friday he would submit a manifestation to the Comelec en banc withdrawing the submitted motion for reconsideration they filed last December and instead allow Lucy to replace Richard, based on the Comelec Rule of Substitution for a dead or disqualified candidate.
Leyte's provincial election officer Felicismo Embalzado, however, said that Richard would continue to be the official candidate on the official ballot for Leyte province, which has already been printed, unless there is a Comelec decision would say otherwise.
Richard, speaking during a Liberal Party sortie here Thursday night, became emotional as he announced his withdrawal from the race and his substitution by his wife.
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