PHISGOC didn’t refuse gov’t support on SEA Games preps — Cayetano

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday said the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) did not refuse help from any government agency.

Cayetano made the remark in response to a report that PHISGOC turned down assistance from government agencies in organizing the country's hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

In an ambush interview with reporters in San Juan City, Cayetano, who chairs the PHISGOC, said that what they actually refused to accept are government funds, not support.

"Hindi totoo na may tinanggihan kami na kahit anong tulong ng gobyerno. Mayroon po kaming pictures at nandun kayo sa PICC (Philippine International Convention Center) nung nag-command conference kami lahat ng gobyerno. Nandun lahat e. So sinong magsasabi tinanggihan namin sila?" he told reporters.

"Ang tinanggihan namin is government funds. But a month ago, sinabi sa akin kapag hindi tinanggap ng PHISGOC ito, magfe-fail ang SEA Games. So pinilit kami na tanggapin ito," he added.

PHISGOC supervises all the preparations and hosting of the SEA Games.

FULL COVERAGE: 30th Southeast Asian Games on GMA News Online

According to Cayetano, they purposely did not accept government funds as they anticipate the backlash from politicians who would question the use of the money.

"PHISGOC did not want to handle a single centavo of government funds dahil alam na namin na ganyan ang magiging reaksyon nung mga pulitiko," he said.

Cayetano insisted that he did not receive a single centavo for leading the preparations for the SEA Games.

He added that he is willing to face investigations over the blunder and supposed irregularities hounding the country's hosting of the sports event.

“[Come] December 12, hold me accountable. Hold the SEA Games Organizing Committee accountable. Hindi ako magtatago. Ako mismo ang haharap sa Senado, sa Ombudsman,” Cayetano said. — RSJ, GMA News