Pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan at bullying ang ilan sa mga paratang ng aktor at Leyte House Representative Richard Gomez, 59, laban kina Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) President Rene Gacuma, 64, at National Head Coach Ronaldo “Amat” Canlas.
Inilahad ni Richard sa kanyang privilege speech sa Kongreso kahapon, Martes, Enero 27, 2026, ang saloobin niya tungkol sa dalawang opisyal ng PFA na sangkot sa insidenteng naganap sa 33rd Southeast Asian Games na idinaos sa Bangkok, Thailand, noong Disyembre 2025.
Nagreklamo si Gacuma na binatukan siya ni Richard at malinaw itong nakunan ng CCTV.
Read: Richard Gomez speaks up about altercation with PH fencing chief
Hindi ito itinanggi ng aktor sa kanyang privilege speech.
“I acknowledge the concerns regarding how I responded to Mr. Gacuma’s interaction with me but let me take this opportunity to explain my side and expose the truth.
“Tayong mga Pilipino ay likas na mapagpasensiya ngunit kapag may mali, hindi dapat pinalalampas. Kapag may abuso, hindi dapat pinagtatakpan,” pahayag ni Richard.
A CASE OF BULLYING
Kasunod nito ay isiniwalat ng mambabatas ang diumano’y bullying na naranasan ni Alexa Larrazabal, 19, sa kamay ng mga opisyal ng PFA.
Si Alexa ay kabilang sa Philippine fencing team na nakipagkumpitensiya sa SEA Games.
Lahad ni Richard: "What the Philippine Fencing Association or the PFA under the leadership of its president Mr. Rene Gacuma and its national head coach Mr. Ronaldo 'Amat' Canlas did to Miss Alexa Larrazabal on December 15, 2025 was not the first case of bullying an athlete and abuse of power inflicted on Filipino fencers.
“This was far from an isolated case.
"Let me recall what happened. On the evening of December 15, 2025, less than 24-hours before the Women’s Individual FA event, Miss Alexa Larrazabal, the number one ranked Filipina FA fencer and officially slated to represent the Philippines in both the individual and team events was suddenly removed from the players list for the individual event.
“During the final manager’s meeting, Mr. Gacuma, upon the recommendation of head coach Amat Canlas removed Ms.Larrazabal from the player’s list for the individual event and replaced her with the number three player.
“In my over thirty years experience of playing and supporting the sport of fencing in the Philippines, this had never been done by replacing the number one player at the very last hours before the event.
“Mr. Gacuma and Mr. Canlas had already violated so many rules, both of the PFA and the Philippine Olympic Committee or the POC.
“The Fencing 205 handbook specifically provides that the number one ranked player is automatically selected to compete in both the individual and team events.
“This means that neither the head coach Mr.Canlas or the PFA board of directors have the authority to replace the number one player in the individual event.
“In my conversation with Mr. Gacuma, he attempted to justify this action by citing alleged faults on the part of Miss Larrazabal.
“If she was supposedly disqualified to compete in the individual event, then, sana hindi na lang nila pinayagan na mag-represent siya sa Southeast Asian Games para sa Pilipinas.
“She should have been informed habang nandito sa Pilipinas. What is utterly unacceptable was allowing her to go to Bangkok para sa SEA Games, let her prepare and make believe she would compete for the country, only to drop her the very last minute.
“That was arrogance. That was oppression.That was abuse of power and bullying.
"Sana hindi na lang nila pinapunta yung atleta sa SEA Games. Sana hindi na lang nila sinayang yung paghahanda ng atleta para sa SEA Games at sana, hindi na lang nila pinagastos ang bayan natin.
"Habang nagte-training yung bata, habang bumibiyahe siya, yung bansa natin ang nagbabayad sa lahat ng expenses nila.
Read: Richard Gomez, planong magsampa ng VAWC kay Rene Gacuma?
RICHARD ACCUSES GACUMA OF DECEIVING THE MEDIA
Pinaratangan din ni Richard si Gacuma ng panlilinlang nito sa mga miyembro ng media.
“Mr. Gacuma also misled the media by saying that there was a PFA board of directors meeting that approved the replacement of Miss Larrazabal.
“Again, if there was a PFA board of directors meeting, they’re still not authorize to replace the number player. What is more concerning is that I know for a fact that no meeting transpired on December 14, 2025.
“Why? Because I am a member of the fencing board. There was no resolution approving such replacement.
“Eto pa, Miss Larrazabal was never given a written notice on any complaint against her.Lagi nilang sinasabi, ‘E, hindi kasi nag-eensayo. Hindi nagpapakita.’
“Wala naman naging complaint against her. She was never afforded a formal hearing. She was never given an opportunity to explain or defend herself despite the PFA handbook clearly mandating due process in disciplinary matters.
“Is she had truly committed a violation, she should have been removed from the national team long before the Southeast Asian Games but instead, the fencing association publicly announced Larrabal as a member of the Philippine delegation of the 33rd SEA Games.”
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PFA OFFICIALS ALLEGEDLY FAVORING SPECIFIC FENCERS
Hindi lamang sina Gacuma at Canlas ang inakusahan ni Gomez ng bullying at favoritism dahil isinangkot din niya si Sally Arambulo, ang administrative head ng PFA.
Diumano, ginagamit ni Arambulo ang impluwensiya nito sa fencing club sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng pabor sa mga atleta ng fencing clubs na pinamamahalaan niya.
“Recently, it came to my knowledge that top officials of the PFA, namely administrative head Miss Sally Arambulo and head coach Mr. Canlas are registered corporators with Miss Arambulo as president and she and Mr. Canlas as members of the board of trustees of a non-stock corporation. The name is Manila’s Sports Fencing Alliance Inc. This corporation was registered at SEC in September 2022.
“Notably, its registered business address is 11 Pittsburgh St., Silangan, Quezon City, the same address as Canlas Fencing which was established in 2018, according to its Facebook page.
“There are alarming reports of Miss Arambulo’s influences extends beyond Canlas Fencing to several other fencing clubs across Metro Manila.
“As administrative head, Miss Arambulo’s involve in the day-to-day operations of the fencing association including the issuances of licenses, accreditation of clubs and coaches and approval of competitions.
“With her influence, she and her business partner, Mr. Canlas have been given free range to determine who gets to play in competitions and would allow fencers to be in the rankings.
“There have been reports of fencers whose parents have fallen out of Ms. Arambulo's good graces and have since been denied entry in the fencing clubs.
"As a result, some of these athletes were forced to abandon the sport altogether, while others reportedly left the country just to continue fencing without fear of bullying or exclusion.”
Noong nakaraang linggo, kasama ang mga magulang ni Larrazabal, naghain sila ni Gomez ng mga reklamong grave abuse of authority, oppression, favoritism, serious misconduct, and conflict of interests laban kina Gacuma at Canlas.
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