MANILA: President Duterte wants to give the organizing responsibilities of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to the government because the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) is allegedly engaged in corruption.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo disclosed this in a news briefing when asked about the president’s supposed plan as earlier reported by the Daily Tribune based on an interview with the Chief Executive.
Asked whether he had asked Duterte about the issue, Panelo said: “He said he doesn’t want the foundation. Gusto niya gobyerno. Sabi niya maraming corruption doon sa private kaya nasisira ‘yung diskarte ng mga leaders.”
Panelo, however, clarified that Duterte believed that Taguig City-Pateros Repsentative Alan Cayetano, the PHISGOC chairman was not involved in the corruption allegations.
“Definitely not. Not this Cayetano,” Rappler quoted him as saying.
PHISGOC, being a private entity, allegedly engaged in questionable deals such as overpriced training uniforms and gear.
As of press time, William “Butch” Ramirez, chair of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) was scheduled to meet with Duterte regarding his final decision on the 2019 SEA Games.
Ramirez was did not disclose further details.
Meantime, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) – reportedly PSC’s main backer – also confirmed that it had given a P200-million sponsorship package to PHISGOC following Duterte’s previous executive order that instructed all government agencies to assist in the preparations of the biennial meet, according to a Rappler report.
But with the recent developments, PAGCOR chairwoman Andrea Domingo questioned where the funds would be going.
“If ma-dissolve ‘yung PHISGOC, nasaan ‘yung funds (If PHISGOC is dissolved, where are the funds)?” said Domingo in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.
The majority of the members of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) board were the first to accuse PHISGOC of entering into questionable deals as the sports merchandise prices quoted were “unreasonably higher.”
Cayetano had refuted the claims, explaining that the uniforms were custom-made, thus the difference in pricing.
