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Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez is facing backlash after accusing reporters of being part of a paid “media spin” and publishing their names and contact numbers on Facebook—an act denounced as reckless, unethical, and even a violation of data privacy.
On August 28, Gomez posted screenshots of text and Viber messages from journalists seeking his side on a collapsed flood control project in Matag-ob, Leyte. Instead of addressing the issue raised by Mayor Bernie Tacoy, Gomez dismissed the coordinated questions as supposed evidence of bribery.
“Mahal din itong media spin na ginagawa nila against me. Look at the similarities of the different socmeds and agencies asking questions. Alam na alam mong merong nagkukumpas. Alam na alam mong ginastusan. Ayus ahhhh. Gastos pa more, mga ungas,” Gomez wrote.
The move, however, backfired. Instead of earning sympathy, Gomez was widely criticized for endangering journalists by exposing their personal details to his more than 700,000 followers. He eventually restricted comments on the post after waves of negative reactions poured in.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) slammed Gomez, reminding him that reporters were simply doing their jobs. “Apart from the allegations that colleagues were paid as part of supposed ‘media spin,’ Gomez posted screenshots with media workers’ names and numbers, a potential violation of data privacy and an action that puts them at risk of harassment and fraud,” NUJP said.
The group further explained: “Media asking for his side actually favors him. The requests give him a chance to address allegations made by Matag-ob Mayor Bernie Tacoy. He could have simply declined to comment without imputing malice or exposing private information.”
House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo “Ronnie” Puno agreed that Gomez could face an ethics complaint, stressing: “You are asked to explain something, you are a legislator, you explain. Then you compound the issue by insulting people… I think the ethics committee should be brought into that.”
The episode drew comparisons to Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, who just days earlier had raised legitimate questions about media ethics in political interviews. While Sotto’s remarks sparked nuanced debate, many said Gomez’s outburst only revealed a lack of understanding of how journalism works.
Ironically, Gomez himself had previously shared a post likening his principles to Sotto’s with the caption, “Different person, same principle…” But with his latest blunder, critics argue the comparison falls flat.
