Palace welcomes move to investigate Philippines hosting of 2019 SEA Games

October 25, 2020

Malacanang welcomes moves to investigate how government funds were used in hosting  the 2019 Southeast Asian Games where the Philippines won the overall championship for the first time since it joined in 1977.

The Philippine Olympic Committee recently asked the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisogc) to present a report to show how around P 6 billion was spent for the biennial event.\

This is on top of a fact-finding probe set up by the Office of the Ombudsman last year.

In a statement, President Spokesperson Harry Roque said: ''We note that the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has already created a panel last year to carry out a fact-finding probe in our hosting of the 2019 SEA Games.''

''We welcome this move of the OMB in the same way that we leave the matter to the House of Representatives to conduct an investigation, if need be, on the use of government funds during last year’s SEA Games, added Roque.

Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano headed the SEA Games organizing committee.

Roque said while investigation is going on, ''the men and women who gave honor and glory to the country'' should not be dishonored by engaging in '' political innuendos and witch hunts.'' DMS