Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez.

Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez has deactivated his official Facebook page following backlash over a viral post that exposed the names and contact details of several journalists. On Wednesday (September 3), searches for Gomez’s verified page, Richard “GOMA” Gomez, returned no results. Comments from netizens tagging the account now lead to inactive links. The move came after Gomez issued a public apology during a House plenary session on Tuesday (September 2). “To the members of the press who took offense in my social media post, I sincerely apologize. Sensitive information has been removed,” he said. “I understand that the media endeavor to keep my side of the story. I acknowledge your efforts. I’m sorry, and I could have handled it better.” The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) earlier condemned the lawmaker’s post, warning that publishing journalists’ personal information could violate data privacy laws. The controversy stemmed from accusations made by Matag-ob Mayor Bernie Tacoy, who alleged neglect and substandard work on a flood control project that collapsed after heavy rains. Gomez denied the claims, insisting the project was still under construction. “Matag-ob was flooded because of heavy rains. The town is surrounded by dams and became the catch basin of our district. The flood control project collapsed because it is not yet completed,” Gomez explained in Filipino. He also dismissed suggestions of poor coordination, citing a January 16 meeting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). According to Gomez, flood control structures do not require building permits but instead need certificates of non-coverage from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “I highly recommend, especially to Mayor Tacoy, to please exercise caution… we cannot simply weaponize popular issues like this to make baseless accusations on just anybody,” Gomez added. Meanwhile, the House Committee on Ethics said it is prepared to entertain complaints related to Gomez’s controversial post, which has stirred debate over accountability and responsible use of social media by public officials. ICA/CAM/Expat Media
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