Lucy Torres files COC to replace husband

MANILA, Philippines - Television host Lucy Torres filed yesterday her certificate of candidacy (COC) for congresswoman in the fourth district of Leyte, replacing her husband actor Richard Gomez who was disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for lack of residency.

According to Gomez, his wife filed her COC at the Comelec office in Tacloban City at 1 p.m. yesterday.

“She will substitute for me to continue our fight against dynasty, poverty and corruption,” he said in a text message to The STAR.

With the provincial Comelec office accepting Torres’ COC, lawyer Alex Avisado, the Gomezes’ legal counsel, said, “All votes for Richard on the official ballot would be accounted as Lucy’s.”

“We would like to dispel rumors that substitution is not allowed and that votes for Richard would be considered as stray votes. Hindi po totoo yan (That’s not true),” Avisado said.

Torres said she never dreamed of entering politics but recent developments led her to accept the challenge.

She said the first order of the day would be to continue the campaign and make sure that her husband’s “good survey ratings would be translated into votes.”

“Our task now is to make sure that the real voice of the people is what will come out. Based on my husband’s ratings, the trust of the people has been with us and with the recent turn of events, they have sympathized greatly,” she said.

“I feel that we are at an advantage that’s why the enemy is relentless,” she added.

The 35-year-old Torres completed a Business Management degree at the University of the Philippines in Cebu City.

Currently, she is hosting several TV programs like “Shall We Dance” and “PO5,” both on TV5, and “The Sweet Life” on QTV 11. Torres also writes a weekly column for The STAR.

The Comelec on Tuesday upheld the disqualification of Gomez, saying he is not qualified to run for congressman of Leyte’s fourth district for failing to comply with residency requirements.

In 2001, Gomez ran as a party-list representative for Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD), an anti-illegal drug group which he headed.

MAD gained a lot of votes in the elections, but the Comelec later disqualified it, as it was first funded by the government.

In 2007, Gomez also ran for senator as an independent candidate, and lost. – With Miriam Garcia Desacada