At SEA Games closing, Cayetano tells critics: ‘Peace be with you’

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano addressed critics of the Philippines’ hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games by offering peace at the closing ceremony of the regional meet.

“For those of you who did not believe, for those of you who said this could not be done, for those of you who said this stadium will not be built on time, for those of you who said ‘sayang ang pera, dapat hindi tayo nag-host,’ sa lahat ng nagkalat ng fake news, ang masasabi ko sa inyo, at ito itaga niyo sa bato: Peace be with you,” Cayetano said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the 30th SEA Games.

[For those of you who did not believe, for those of you who said this could not be done, for those of you who said this stadium will not be built on time, for those of you who said ‘it’s a waste of money, we should not have hosted it,’ for all who spread fake news, what I can say to you, and you can set this in stone: Peace be with you.]

Cayetano is also the chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), the private organization in charge of organizing the games.

The Philippines’ hosting of the regional multi-sports event started rough as visiting athletes and guests reportedly encountered transportation and hotel arrangements woes upon their arrival in the country.

READ: Football teams suffer woes ahead of SEA Games opening

But despite the early mishaps in the hosting, President Rodrigo Duterte cleared his ally from corruption even before the investigation of the alleged irregularities could begin.

READ: SEA Games mess: Duterte ‘sure’ Alan not involved in corruption

Nonetheless, the Office of the Ombudsman has created a fact-finding panel to look into possible corruption in the organizing of the games.

READ: Probe of alleged corruption at SEAG starts

/atm