Sampung buwan makalipas na makunan ng CCTV camera ang pambabatok niya kay Philippine Fencing Association President Rene Gacuma sa Southeast Asian Games, pormal na humingi ng paumanhin ang aktor at Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez.
December 2025 naganap ang SEA Games sa Thailand.
Read: Richard Gomez speaks up about altercation with PH fencing chief
Inihayag ni Richard ang public apology sa kanyang personal at collective privilege speech sa House plenary noong Miyerkules, Oktubre 7, 2026.
Nag-ugat ang hidwaan sa pagitan ng dalawa dahil kay Alexa Larrazabal, ang number one fencer ng Pilipinas.
Inalis at pinalitan ni Gacuma si Larrazabal ng ibang manlalaro sa individual women’s epee event ng Southeast Asian Games ang akusasyon ni Gomez.
Nauwi iyon sa tensyon at pambabatok ni Richard, na inihingi niya ng paumanhin nang bigyan siya ng pagkakataon ni House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin na makapagsalita.
"This is regarding the Southeast Asian Games last year. Sometime last year during the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand when the fencing president took out our number one player in the individual epee event.
"A commotion happened and have caused to diminish the image of the house.
"Maybe he got hurt in what I’ve done.
"And as a mature person, I know, I’ve come to realize that I should have not done such an act, and for that I am very sorry, Madam Speaker,” pahayag ni Gomez.
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RICHARD GOMEZ ON DEFENDING FENCING ATHLETE
Pero iginiit ni Gomez na dahil sa nangyari, nawalan ng pagkakataon ang Pilipinas na manalo ng gold medal sa Southeast Games noong nakaraang taon.
Pahayag niya: "I am very sorry for what happened.
"But then again, it doesn’t erase the fact that the national athlete missed her chance of winning possible gold medal for the country.
"And what actually happened, Madam Speaker, is that after almost a year, that same athlete is still undergoing psychological treatment because of what happened when she was taken out during the event.
"Masakit para sa bata na ganoon ang nangyari sa kanya."
Naiintindihan daw niya iyon bilang siya man ay dati ring atleta.
"And Madam Speaker, I just also want to tell everyone that I myself was a national athlete and I myself was a sports official in this country.
"I will always fight for the welfare of our national athletes. That is my promise to my athletes and promise to myself," dagdag ni Richard.
Sabay ulit niya, "What happened in the Southeast Asian Games last year, Madam Speaker, that incident I am very sorry to the House and my colleagues.”