MANILA – House of Representatives Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is not yet absolved from the controversies hounding the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, said President Rodrigo Duterte.
Contrary to his previous claim, Duterte said the investigation being done on the logistical troubles prior to the opening of the biennial sporting event will spare no one.
“If it causes me and my allies to fall politically then so be it,” President Duterte said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Friday night.
Duterte added that his statement last Thursday that Cayetano, who chairs Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee, is innocent of corruption was only his opinion.
“That is just my opinion, I could be wrong but I have known Cayetano for many years. I have always believed in him,” the Chief Executive said.
“I was just kind of shooting breeze with everyone. Parang hindi ako makapaniwala na papatol si Cayetano,” he added.
However, Duterte said that the probe should proceed presuming everyone is innocent.
“I think that the investigation should proceed with the presumption of innocence then along the way if you find some wrong – either negligence or intentional – let it out and sort out what to do next either to file charges or not,” he said.
Cayetano was blamed for the issues that hounded the SEA Games such as delayed transport and accommodation of some athletes, unfinished venues, and limited availability of halal food options among others.
Recently, Duterte said he wanted a probe into the corruption allegations against the organizers of the event. He will assign some retired auditors from the Commission on Audit and some lawyers who were his fraternity brothers to conduct the investigation./PN
