MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman has started investigating House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and other officials who may be involved in the alleged mishandling of the P6-billion fund for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires said a seven-strong fact-finding panel was formed to investigate the alleged anomalies in the biennial sporting event hosting which concludes today.
He added the probe would cover Cayetano as the chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).
“Hindi tayo pwedeng maging selective. We have to assess ano ang participation ng bawat official ng PHISGOC,” he added.
Cayetano, for his part, welcomed the probe, saying he will fully support all investigations.
“We welcome this as an opportunity to put to rest all the questions so that we may move forward in celebrating the success of our athletes and honoring the sacrifices of our workforce and volunteers,” Cayetano said in a Facebook post on Monday.
“We will fully support all investigations, and as I said before, I am ordering full transparency, audits and opening of all books,” he added.
Cayetano renewed his claim that there are no irregularities in the country’s hosting of the SEA Games as he is aware that cases would be filed against the organizers no matter how strict they were in handling the affairs.
“l accepted the job of heading the organizing team because it is about time we show the world what a unified Filipino nation is capable of doing,” Cayetano said. “Personally I forgive you, but for the national interest there will be accountability and reckoning.”/PN
