MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday said he would push for an investigation on the spending of the government for the Philippine-hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
During the Senate deliberations on the 2020 budget of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Drilon questioned the P50-million stadium cauldron for the SEA Games, which will take place on November 30 to December 11.
READ: Drilon questions ‘P50-million kaldero’ for SEA Games
“Sa akin, masyadong extravagant ang mahiwaga at pinakamalaking kaldero sa buong mundo, sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa,” he told reporters in an interview.
(For me, the mysterious and biggest pot in the world, in the history of the Philippines is too extravagant).
He said he would file a Senate resolution, seeking an inquiry into government expenses for the staging of the SEA Games in the country.
“We have to support our athletes. ‘Di naman nila kasalanan itong pangaabuso na nakikita natin but kailangan suportahan natin ang mga atleta natin para (This abuse we’re seeing is not their fault and we need to support them so) they can compete and bring honor to the country. But it doesn’t mean that we will not question this expenses,” he said.
“After the games in December, I will file a resolution for the Senate to investigate this,” he added.
The veteran lawmaker then appealed to the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special inspection of the government’s financial records pertaining to its expenditures for the regional biennial sports competition.
“Dapat i-audit ng husto ng COA, hindi lang po ito [tungkol sa P50-million cauldron], kung hindi ‘yung ibang gastusin,” he said.
(COA should audit this carefully. This is not not only (about the P50-million cauldron) but also other expenses).
“Hinihiling ko po sa COA na magkaroon ng special audit para po matignan ng husto ang ginastos dito sa Southeast Asian Games,” he added.
(I appeal to COA to conduct a special audit so that we can thoroughly look into the expenses of the government for the Southeast Asian Games.)
Edited by KGA