No moves to oust Speaker Cayetano amid SEA Games issues —Barbers

House Committee on Dangerous Drugs chair Robert Ace Barbers said Sunday he has not heard or seen of any moves to oust Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, amid issues in the preparations for the country's hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

"Sa akin, honestly, wala akong nakikita, wala akong naririnig, wala kaming nararamdaman na magkakaroon ng change ng leadership," Barbers said in a media forum in Manila on Sunday.

"As I speak, ang nangyayari ngayon ay tuloy ang commitment, tuloy ang usapan, usapang lalaki 'yan. Sa aking palagay, walang pagbabago," he added.

Concerns have been raised that the reported glitches in transportation, accommodation, and other logistical matters in the lead-up to the opening of the SEA Games would cost Cayetano, chair of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee, his position as Speaker.

But Barbers said hitches were common in the hosting of every sporting event.

"Of course, hindi naman perpekto. May mga glitches, may mga hitches. E wala namang organizing committee na walang ganyan," he said.

"In fact, mismong yung mga atleta natin kinukwento yung kanilang experience. Pero hindi nila narinig na mismo doon sa bansa kung saan nagho-host ay may nagsisiraan hanggang sa punto na may nagbabangayan pa kung sino ang tama," he added.

Cayetano, however, said he is ready to let go of the House leadership if its members do not want him to stay in his post anymore.

He added that he is willing to face investigations over the blunders and supposed irregularities hounding the country's hosting of the SEA Games.

Meanwhile, Barbers said the House may conduct a probe into the spread of "fake news" on matters related to the SEA Games.

"Doon naman sa issue ng fake news bago itong opening, klarong-klaro naman na paninira e. In fact, dinispute nga bakit fake news yung lumabas. Obviously meron silang gustong pabagsakin," he said.

"Huwag sana nilang pagsamantalahan yung panahon na pabagsakin ang Pilipino dahil dito sa nangyayari. Vindicated, sa aking palagay, yung mga organizers," he added. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News