Velasco: Hold off criticisms, probe to follow on 2019 SEA Games woes

MANILA, Philippines — People behind the Philippines’ hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games would likely face congressional investigation soon, so critics might have to hold off their horses for now.

This was the appeal of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco in the wake of increasing criticisms on how the Philippine Sea Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) has been handling the country’s SEA Games hosting this year especially since it started with a series of mishaps since foreign athletes started arriving on Saturday, November 23.

“‘Yung mga comments, hold muna natin. I’m sure after the SEA games, I think there are a lot of people who will be filing for investigations on what really happened with the SEA Games,” Velasco told reporters in an interview Tuesday.

(We should refrain from commenting for now. I’m sure after the SEA Games, I think there are a lot of people who will be filing for investigations on what really happened with the SEA Games.)

“So, wait na lang po natin ‘yun. (So we should just wait for the probe). We’ll just make people who are accountable, accountable,” he added.

He also asked government officials to stop “pointing fingers” or pinning the blame on each other as this will ultimately reflect in the country’s reputation.

“Right now, ang ginagawa natin, we are all pointing fingers. At the end of the day, ‘pag inisip natin, ang reputasyon ng bansa nakasalalay dito,” Velasco pointed out.

(Right now, what we are doing is we are all pointing fingers. At the end of the day, when we think of it, it is the country’s reputation that is at stake here.)

“Instead of focusing on inefficiencies, let us focus on how we can improve it,” he said.

It is worth noting that the head of Phisgoc, the main organizing group of the 30th SEA Games, is Speaker Alan Cayetano.

Velasco and Cayetano entered into a term-sharing deal in which Cayetano would serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives for 15 months, or until October 2020, when Velasco would succeed him to serve as Speaker until 2022.

Such a gentlemen’s agreement was brokered by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte to avert a crisis among his allies in the lower chamber.

Controversies on the 2019 SEA Games exploded after national football teams from four countries complained of getting messy receptions upon their arrival in Manila over the weekend.

Players from Timor-Leste and Myanmar had to wait for hours at the airport when they arrived in Manila, according to photos and accounts that spread like wildfire on social media.

Delays were likewise experienced by Thailand’s football players due to problems in securing their IDs as well as accreditation of their support staff.

Photos of the Cambodia team sleeping on the floor and chairs at a hotel’s conference room also circulated on social media.

READ: SEA Games hosting starts on wrong foot

Similarly, Singapore’s delegation has raised numerous concerns on transportation, accreditation, and lack of halal food for athletes.

Edited by KGA