Robredo rallies support for PH athletes amid SEA Games controversies
Vice President Leni Robredo. (File photo by OVP)
MANILA, Philippines — Instead of dwelling on the numerous controversies hounding the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games this year, Vice President Leni Robredo said Sunday Filipinos should rather focus on supporting athletes competing for the Philippine flag.
“Ako, ayaw ko na muna na mag-comment doon sa maraming kontrobersiya kasi dapat iyong focus muna natin ngayon, iyong mga atleta natin na isasabak. Ito iyong magdadala talaga ng bandila ng Pilipinas. Sila talaga iyong nangangailangan ng pinakamalaking suporta,” Robredo said in her weekly radio program.
(I do not want to comment on the many controversies because we must focus now on our athletes who will be competing. They are the ones who will carry the Philippine flag. They really need our biggest support.)
“Sa gitna ng napakaraming kontrobersiya, hindi natin nabibigyan-halaga iyong sakripisyo ng ating mga atleta,” she said.
(In the middle of these controversies, we’ve overlooked the sacrifices of our athletes.) “Hindi natin nakikita kung ano iyong pinagdadaanan nila para ma-represent lang iyong ating bansa. At sa panahong ganito, na malapit na silang sumabak, dapat sila muna iyong pagtuonan natin ng pansin,” Robredo added. (We’re not able to see what they’ve been through to represent our country. Since their fight is now about to start, they should be the ones we should focus on.)The Philippines’ hosting of the regional multi-sporting event is off to a rough start as football teams from Timor-Leste, Myanmar and Cambodia reportedly encountered transportation and hotel arrangements woes upon their arrival in the country.
The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), the private organization in charge of organizing the games, has already apologized for their shortcomings. Meanwhile, Malacañang also apologized for the inconvenience and vowed for a “pleasant” and “productive” 2019 SEA Games. Prior to this, many also raised eyebrows on the multimillion-peso cauldron that would be used in the SEA Games’ opening ceremony on November 30. The Philippines will play host of the biennial regional multi-sporting event from November 30 to December 11. The games will be held in different venues in Metro Manila, Clark, and Subic, among others.
