Amid Duterte 'displeasure' over SEA Games issues, PHISGOC ready to face probe

Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) chief operating officer Ramon Suzara on Wednesday said the organization is ready face any investigation over allegations of corruption and incompetence in connection with the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“As the Speaker (Alan Peter Cayetano) said, as the chairman, he’s ready for any investigation,” Suzara said.

Suzara said this after presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte is “displeased” over the troubles that have been plaguing the biennial meet.

READ: Duterte wants probe into SEA Games mess —Palace

“Of course the government will be worried. The President and Secretary Panelo because they’ve been reading all these stories and the stories are not good,” Suzara said.

“Siyempre ang gobyerno, worried din sila pero kung magpalabas tayo ng real and positive stories, ilabas natin,” he added.

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He also said encountering mishaps when hosting an event such as the SEA Games is normal.

“‘Di ko naman sinasabi na hindi tayo handa kasi handa tayo. There are just little problems before the opening ceremonies but we have resolved that,” Suzara said.

“The government has spent so much money for the Games and we’re doing our best to provide the services,” he added.

FULL COVERAGE: 30th Southeast Asian Games on GMA News Online

However, Suzara said problems related to the SEA Games should be discussed after the events to not distract the national athletes, who should be given support and encouragement instead.

“The Speaker as he said is always ready but let’s focus muna sa games, cheer our Filipino athletes,” he said.

Focus on positive

Suzara also asked members of the media to focus on the positives rather than the problems that went with hosting an international sporting event such as the SEA Games.

"We tackled all the issues of players, their requests and the problems of the chef de mission and we have resolved everything," Suzara said.

"We want to put a rest on this that's why we had a chef de mission meeting... Always, before the opening, there are a lot of adjustments," he added.

"I'm appealing to all of you to give a positive note on what we have done," Suzara said who cited the negative coverage of the media.

In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said officials "responsible for the disaster" should not blame the media, including the international press, for reporting about the SEA Games' woes.

"It is bad enough when trolls are let loose upon media reporting on the disastrous preparations of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) for the 30th SEA Games," NUJP said in a statement, in reaction to the remarks of PHISGOC chief operating officer Ramon Suzara in a news conference.

"It becomes ridiculously unacceptable when the officials responsible for the disaster resort to bashing media as well, as if the reports on their shortcomings were to blame for the disaster," it added.

Officials said there were more to the Philippines' hosting than the lapses in the staging of the early competitions at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

"There are other 52 venues na hindi kino-cover. The Biñan Complex and the Muntinlupa Sports Complex are nice," Suzara said.

"The World Trade Center now is ready for wushu, karate and fencing. There are a lot of venues in New Clark City, dapat 'yon doon magpunta, hindi lang nakatutok sa isa," he added.

Meanwhile, Suzara added that PHISGOC is thankful to the president for his support since the beginning of the SEA Games.

The Philippines is staging the SEA Games for the fourth time already. The first time was in 2005. —JST/LDF, GMA News