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Cayetano apologized to Duterte over SEA Games setbacks, says Bong Go


Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano personally apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday over earlier glitches in the country's hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Senator Bong Go said Sunday.

According to Senator Go, Cayetano, who chairs the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), apologized to Duterte upon the President's arrival at the Philippine Arena for the opening ceremony of the SEA Games on Saturday evening.

"Pagbaba pa lang ni Pangulo sa sasakyan, humingi siya (Cayetano) ng paumanhin sa mga pagkukulang at mga konting kapalpakan. Sabi niya, hopefully Mr. President, makaraos tayo at maayos lahat ng ito after the opening," Go told Dobol B sa News TV.

Go said Cayetano admitted there were lapses and shortcomings in the SEA Games preparations that caused inconveniences to some participating teams, and Duterte knew that these minor blunders could not be prevented.

"[Pero] sabi ni Pangulo, 'Basta tayo, trabaho lang tayo at tuloy ang laro.' Masaya naman ang lahat," Go said.

"Ang importante ay after the opening, sana ay hindi naman totally mabura. Ma-uplift yung morale ng bawat Pilipino," he added.

Go also said the successful staging of the SEA Games opening ceremonies would not take people responsible for the earlier setbacks off the hook.

"Kahapon, nabanggit ng ating Pangulo, bagama't maganda yung naging opening, ay hindi ibig sabihin wala tayong gagawing imbestigasyon, kung saka-sakali," he said.

"Kung kailangan talaga na magkaroon tayo ng imbestigasyon, kung nagamit ba sa tama at walang nasayang na pondo na ibinigay sa Southeast Asian Games, mahalaga malaman ng bawat Pilipino na wala bang nasayang ni piso," he added.

What is important for now, Go said, is that Filipino athletes win medals and the country breaks into the top 3.

"Focus muna tayo sa laro. Dapat mag-top 3 tayo. Ipakita natin sa taumbayan na worth it yung pagho-host natin dito. Nothing less than third place ang dapat makuha natin," he said.

The 30th SEA Games will go on until December 11, during which the closing ceremonies will be held at the Athletics Stadium in the New Clark City. —LBG, GMA News

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