Filtered By: Topstories
News

After Philippines bagged championship, Lacson presses probe of SEA Games hosting


The Senate should continue with its investgation of the controversies surrounding the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) games even after Filipino athletes bagged the overall championship, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

“Huwag natin basta ipikit ang mata natin dahil very successful ang performance ng atleta. Huwag nating kalimutan ang possible excesses, hindi ko sinasabing meron, pero dapat patingnan din para hindi na maulit o kaya magkaroon ng kaukulang panukalang batas o legislation para macorrect,” Lacson said in a phone interview with reporters.

He said the legislative probe can proceed even if the Ombudsman investigation is ongoing.

“Dati na natin ginagawa. For all we know baka makatulong ang investigation ng Senado sa fact-finding investigation na ginagawa ng Ombudsman. Kasi may nangyari in the past na yung proceeds o result ng investigation ng Senate nagamit ng Ombudsman o Sandiganbayan,” he said.

He further said the victory of the athletes should be separated from the organizing committee.

“Magkaiba ang mga atleta at ang organizing committee, ang PHISGOC (Philippine SEA Games  Organizing Committee). Kung ano man ang honors na ibinigay ng mga atleta, 149 golds, 287 lahat-lahat, walang kinalaman ang organizing committee doon,” he said.

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

The Philippines bagged the overall championship in the SEA Games with 149 golds, 117 silvers, and 119 bronzes.

The medal haul and the country’s standing in the SEA Games is a result of the hard work of the athletes and their coaches and sponsors, said Lacson.

“Ang may kinalaman doon, ang mga sponsors at mga atleta mismo. So huwag natin ipaghalo na ang success ng mga atleta natin. Organizing council ang PHISGOC, sila ang nangasiwa sa pag-coordinate. Ngayon kung ano ang kapalpakan ng PHISGOC, kung totoo o hindi, dapat tingnan sa pamamagitan na oversight na mandate ng Senate at House,” he said.

“Kung may corruption, halimbawa man, sa PHISGOC walang kinalaman ang atleta roon at walang kinalaman ‘yan kung bakit tayo napakarami ng gold medal,” he added.

One of the issues, Lacson said, is the transfer of funds from the Philippine Sports Commission, which is a government agency, to a private foundation which is PHISGOC.

“Malaking question kasi government fund ‘yan hindi mo pwede ilagak sa isang private foundation. ‘Yan ang dapat tingnan even for the purpose of legislation, mag-inquire kung tama ba ‘yan at kung talagang necessity ‘yan baguhin natin ang batas, ang procurement law,” he said.

“Otherwise, mukhang may mali roon. Kasi di ba may na-convict na riyan? Example si former governor Grace Padaca, ‘yung pondo ng provincial government nalipat sa private foundation, na-convict siya. Si (Janet) Napoles, pork ng mga kongresista at senador napunta sa private foundation, may kaso ngayon,” he added.

He said no one should be spared in the investigation.

“Walang exempted diyan kasi walang above the law. Kung may pagkakamali, dapat may matingnan,” he said. —NB, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT