Duterte seen barring Cayetano’s PHISGOC from organizing SEA Games

(From left-right) POC board member Jonne Go, chef de mission Monsour del Rosario, Mike Barredo of Philspada, Phisgoc chairman Alan Peter Cayetano and PSC chairman Butch Ramirez. FILE PHOTO/June Navarro

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte may have barred the privately formed Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) Foundation Inc. from organizing the 2019 Southeast Asian (Sea) Games due to alleged corruption.

Reports said the PHISGOC Foundation Inc. had entered into questionable deals, including the allegedly overpriced uniform, training gears, and socks.

PHIGSOC Foundation chairman Alan Peter Cayetano has already denied the allegations.

Cayetano, who is returning to the lower chamber as Taguig 1st District Representative, said the creation of an organizing committee in hosting the event is in line with the Olympic charter.

In an interview with a local broadsheet on July 11, Duterte was quoted as saying that he would not let PHISGOC Foundation organize the hosting of the regional biennial meet, which will be held this November.

He said the government should lead and handle the hosting of the SEA Games.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo could not confirm whether Duterte removed the power from PHIGSOC Foundation to organize the SEA Games hosting.

But Panelo said the allegations of corruption may have led the President’s decision to strip PHIGSOC Foundation of its power.

“Maybe that’s the reason why he wants the government to handle it, most likely,” he said in a Palace briefing, adding that the President may soon issue an executive order designating the POC and the Philippine Sports Commission as lead organizers of the SEA Games.

“Since he made that statement, then that is forthcoming. Iyon ang posisyon niya, ayaw niya sa foundation eh,” he said.

Duterte signed in January this year, Memorandum Circular No. 56, directing all government offices to extend their support for the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc)./ac