NEWSFLASH 

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RICHARD GOMEZ SACKED WITH OTHER MALACANANG ADVISERS?

Manila, Jan. 9, 2000- Presidential Adviser on Youth and Sports Richard Gomez might have already lost his prestigious government job.

In his Ulat sa Bayan yesterday, the President Estrada announced that he has dismissed all his one-peso-a-year advisers and consultants. Richard Gomez falls under that category.

Journalists covering the sports beat believe that the actor may have known in advance that he would lose the glamorous and influential, albeit non-financially rewarding, presidential advisory position. They point out the peculiar manner by which Gomez appears to have deliberately ignored the presence of Presidential son and San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) annual awards night at the Holiday Inn Friday night.

Gomez, who received a special citation, shook the hand of every personality on the PSA presidential table except Mayor Estrada, who reportedly was stunned by the unexpected breach of protocol.

In a breach of protocol, Presidential adviser Gomez left before President Estrada’s speech was delivered by Mayor Estrada in behalf of his father.

Only staying long enough to receive his citation, Gomez and wife Lucy Torres stood up to leave and gave photographers several opportunities to take their picture, which slightly disturbed the proceedings inside the Holiday Inn’s Coral Ballroom.

Gomez refused to comment about the missed handshake with the young Estrada, which could be traced to his differences with Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Tuason, who is reported to have the support of the young Estrada.

Gomez had clashed on sports policy with Tuason and the PSC, most notable of which was his claim last year that Tuason should report to him because the actor thought he outranks the PSC chairman. Only after an open media word war did Gomez realize that the title of “Secretary Richard Gomez” does not place him above Chairman Tuason, since the title was merely ceremonial or honorary, carried in a job that is not a line cabinet position.

The actor-sportsman later had to issue a public apology.