Palace hopes for successful PH hosting of SEA Games

MANILA — Malacañang remains optimistic that the Philippines’ hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will conclude “with flying colors” despite controversies besetting the regional sports meet.

While President Rodrigo Duterte had raised concerns over the supposed mishandling of SEA Games preparations by the private organizing panel, he wanted unity among Filipinos to ensure the successful conduct of the biennial multi-sport event, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Thursday.

“(There are) certain allegations of fraud and he wants this probe(d), but after the SEA Games. Meanwhile, we have to help each other, cooperate, and hopefully, we will finish with the SEA Games with flying colors,” Panelo said in an interview with ANC.

Issues on unfinished venues, transportation, accommodation, food, and other logistics hound the country’s hosting of the SEA Games ahead of its formal opening at the Philippine Sports Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on November 30.

The 30th SEA Games will take place from November 30 to December 11.

The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), a private entity responsible for the preparations for the SEA Games, assured the country on Wednesday that the concerns raised by participating countries have already been ironed out.

Panelo expressed hope that the PHISGOC, led by House of Representatives Speaker Alan Cayetano, would learn from its mistakes and become “more creative” to ensure the Philippines’ successful hosting.

“Whatever mistakes we have, we have to learn from them. And then go forward. Hindi naman pupwedeng basta na lang tayo reklamo nang reklamo, wala naman tayong gagawin (We cannot just complain without doing anything),” he said. “Whatever is lacking, then fill it up. The country’s image and pride are at stake so let us pull our resources together.”

Acknowledging that there was “something wrong” with the preparations, Panelo noted the need for PHISGOC to “perform better services expected of them.”

Panelo likewise urged Filipinos to just support the government as it hosts the SEA Games, instead of making hateful comments.

He also encouraged media outfits to be “more prudent” in their reporting and avoid publishing unverified information, as he said that “allegations are remembered, not their clarifications or justifications.”

“We ask everyone to be more circumspect in reading articles that may contain false information or fake news. Let us not believe them outright. Many of them turn out to be untrue,” Panelo said in a statement sent to Palace reporters. “Let the games to continue without the attendant raucous bashing. Our local athletes deserve our support. Let us welcome our foreign guests with the kind of warm hospitality we are known for.”

Meanwhile, Panelo said the President had decided to conduct an investigation into the SEA Games’ blunders after the event.
He said Duterte’s office will conduct a separate probe.

It was, however, unclear whether the Chief Executive would tap the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to lead the investigation.

“The Palace notes that the Senate intends to conduct an inquiry on the issues, which hounded the organization of the event. We welcome such initiative,” Panelo said. “The Office of the President will also be conducting a separate probe on the aberrations and irregularities in the administration of our country’s hosting of the SEA Games immediately after the games.”

PACC chair Dante Jimenez said on Tuesday that there would be an immediate investigation into the issues surrounding the SEA Games, once a complaint is lodged before his office.

Jimenez said the PACC may also “silently” launch a “motu proprio” (on its own) investigation against the SEA Games organizers.

Panelo guaranteed that Duterte would hold accountable all individuals, including his allies, who indeed made irregularities.

“Given the character of this President, wala naman ditong kaibi-kaibigan (he does not give preferential treatment to his friends). You see how he fires people. He fired people who are close to him. ‘Pag may (If there is) irregularity, graft, corruption, he (the accused) will be accountable,” he said.

Despite controversies surrounding the SEA Games, Panelo expressed his belief that the Philippines’ image as this year’s host of the biennial event remains untainted.

He also noted that some of the “fake” news about the country’s preparations for the SEA Games had already been debunked.

“It’s not as bad as you pictured it to be. Hindi naman. Like there are many complaints na hindi naman pala totoo (It’s not because there are many complaints that are not true),” Panelo said when quizzed if the issues on the SEA Games’ preparations had an impact on the Philippines’ image.

All government offices, consistent with their respective mandates, have been instructed to assist PHISGOC in preparatory activities, such as the procurement of necessary materials and equipment, provision of support services, and acceptance of donations for the country’s hosting of the Games, according to Memorandum Circular (MC) 56 signed by Malacañang on January 25.

MC 56 also mandates the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and all concerned national sports associations to coordinate and support one another for the effective preparation and successful participation of the Philippine delegates in the 2019 SEA Games and all preparatory and relevant competitions.

The President has also intended to give additional incentives and medals in the Order of Lapu-Lapu to winning Filipino athletes, Panelo said.

“To all the athletes participating in the games, we wish them the best of luck as they display their wares and talents in the competition,” he said.