Duterte upset over kikiam, other SEA Games lapses —Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed displeasure over the series of lapses that has so far marred the Philippines' hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

Miscues in the food preparations, transportation, accommodations for the foreign athletes have hobbled the country’s hosting of the regional sports meet.

Duterte was at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit in Busan when complaints about the country’s hosting came to the fore.

In an interview on state-run Radyo Pilipinas, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the lapses could have been avoided had organizers implemented contingency plans such as transferring the athletes to other hotels and standby transport services.

"‘Yung palpak na yun, hindi sana nangyari, kayang kaya gawan [ng paraan]. Kaya nagagalit si Presidente,” Panelo said.

Panelo also reacted to the report that some athletes were served just egg, rice and the street food kikiam for breakfast.

“Kinakain lang ‘yun 'pag medyo wala ka nang makain,” Panelo said, referring to kikiam.

The 30th SEA Games, which will run from November 30 to December 11, is being handled by the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee, headed by Duterte ally Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

The Palace earlier apologized for the “unintentional inconvenience suffered by our athlete-guests.”

“We are not promising that the Games will run without a hitch, given the countless athletes who will participate and represent their respective countries," Panelo said on Sunday.

"But we will exercise due diligence in making sure everyone will have a pleasant, productive and memorable stay in the Philippines,” he added. —NB, GMA News