MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is dismayed to hear over the logistical troubles hounding the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, his spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
According to Panelo, the barrage of complaints from athletes taking part in the regional sports meet had reached the President, who was in Busan, South Korea until Tuesday afternoon.
“The President is not pleased of what he’s been hearing about certain snafu, certain delays, certain allegations of athletes not being fed properly, athletes arriving late or not on time delivered to their places of rest or residence. He’s displeased. Ayaw niya ‘yon,” Panelo said.
He added that the President wants an investigation into allegations of incompetence and corruption in relation to the handling of the biennial event, which will formally open this Saturday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
“There were allegations of fraud na lumalabas sa diyaryo, ayaw niya rin ‘yon. He wants to investigate that. Hindi uubra sa kaniya ang corruption,” he added.
Panelo said the probe would include House Speaker and Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee chair Alan Peter Cayetano, as the President ordered those at fault to be held accountable.
“Siguro kasama na lahat ‘yon kasi when you investigate a particular body kasama na lahat ‘yong kung sino involved dun,” Panelo said. “Pero hindi na kailangan i-summon si Speaker Alan kasi he started explaining already.”
The Presidential spokesperson, meanwhile, said the problems concerning transportation and lodging could have been avoided if the SEA Games organizers were more prepared.
“Merong mga bagay na di mo maiwasan, pero pwedeng magawan ng paraan ‘yan e. Gaya halimbawa nung sinasabi na hindi nakapasok sa hotel dahil alas-dos supposedly, eh dumating earlier,” Panelo said.
Following transportation and billeting problems, the Department of Tourism on Tuesday said it would be handling reception and billeting coordination for sports delegations arriving for the Games.
In a statement, the DOT said it had partnered with the Tourism Congress of the Philippines to implement “best practices in welcoming international guests to the country.”/PN
