Hontiveros: Athletes shouldn’t be used as shield against probe into SEA Games sports facilities

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said Filipino athletes should not be used as a cover to bar a full-scale Senate investigation on the alleged irregularities behind the construction of the sports facilities for the Philippines' hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

"Huwag nating gamitin ang mga athletes natin bilang parang kalasag o shield laban sa isang inquiry na maaaring isang multi-billion peso na anomalya," Hontiveros said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"'Yung awards ng ating mga athlete sa recent Southeast Asian games, untarnished po 'yan. Walang bahid," she added.

In a privilege speech on Tuesday, Hontiveros claimed that the joint venture of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority with the Malaysian firm MTD Capital Berhad was "fake."

She said the project was funded by a multi-billion loan taken out by the MTD from the Development Bank of the Philippines and that the BCDA paid the said loan by using taxpayer's money.

She also pointed out that the loan was granted within only a month after the BCDA and the Malaysian firm inked their joint venture deal for the construction of New Clark City sports facilities.

On the other hand, the BCDA maintained that the joint venture with the MTD was above board.

"There was no undue advantage accorded to MTD Capital Berhad as its unsolicited proposal underwent a rigorous negotiation process and a Competitive Challenge," the BCDA said in a statement.

"The joint venture agreement between BCDA and MTD passed the scrutiny of applicable Philippine laws, rules and regulations," it added.

In the same radio interview, Hontiveros said: "Basta ba maganda ang project okay na kung may pangungurakot? Hindi naman 'di ba? Mukhang ginisa ang taumbayan sa sariling mantika." 

After the senator delivered her privilege speech regarding the issue, Senator Pia Cayetano said she was embarrassed that a "political issue" is being made out of a world-class facility, stressing that Filipino athletes deserve good sports facilities.

"Kaya tuloy wala nang mag-aabalang magpatayo ng matino at kahanga-hangang infrastructure dito sa Pilipinas dahil magpatayo ka lang ng maganda ay sasabihin na may kalokohan ka," Cayetano said. "Eh, ano, puro bulok na lang tayo para walang pumansin? Ganoon?"

But Hontiveros denied that she is seeking a probe on this matter because of political interest and added that she is just doing her mandate as a senator.

"Kung hindi namulitika ang COA (Commission on Audit), hindi namulitika ang OGCC (Office of the Government Corporate Counsel) sa pagpuna at pag-flag nitong mga isyung ito, kundi ginagawa nila ang kanilang mandato, palagay ko ako rin," she said.

Hontiveros' Senate Resolution No. 567 seeking a legislative investigation on the issue has been referred to the Blue Ribbon and Sports Committees. — RSJ, GMA News