Palace: Inquire about 2019 SEA Games expenses to House

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang said Sunday that conducting an investigation into the use of government funds for the Philippines to host the 30 Southeast Asian Games (SEA) last year is up to the House of Representatives.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque issued the statement amid requests for a deeper investigation into the alleged irregularities that marred the country’s organization of the 2019 SEA Games, in particular the SEA Games Organizing Committee’s P387 million debt issue. of the Philippines (Phisgoc) with suppliers.

Roque noted that the Ombudsman’s Office has already created a panel to investigate the issue.

“We welcome this measure by the OMB in the same way that we leave the matter to the House of Representatives to carry out an investigation, if necessary, on the use of government funds during last year’s SEA Games.” Roque said in a statement.

He also stated that the successful organization of the SEA Games sporting event “showed not only our local athletes in their prime, but also demonstrated our success as the host of a world-class sporting event.”

“Therefore, let us not dishonor the men and women who brought honor and glory to the country by participating in political innuendo and witch hunts,” said the Palace official.

At a recent budget hearing on the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Senate and Amusement Games Board, PSC Executive Director Guillermo Iroy said the PSC has been receiving demand letters from vendors asking to the agency to pay its outstanding debt of P387 million.

Spokesman Lord Allan Velasco said he was open to an investigation into Phisgoc, which was chaired by then-spokesman Alan Peter Cayetano.

LEE: Cayetano challenges Velasco to probe Phisgoc: Put me in jail if you find anomalies

JE

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