Cayetano: SEA Games hosting goes on despite PHL Olympic Committee chief’s resignation

CLARK, Pampanga — The Philippines' hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will go on as usual despite the resignation of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas, Alan Peter Cayetano, chair of the event's organizing committee, said on Tuesday.

"We will not withdraw. Never say die tayo. Tsaka we intend to do very well itong SEA Games," Cayetano, chair of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) Foundation, told reporters in an ambush interview here.

Cayetano said he feels bad that Vargas has resigned, but this should not be a reason for the organizers of the SEA Games here in November to back down.

"Ang panawagan ko lang... ang sports leaders magkaisa tayo. Kasi once or twice lang in a lifetime yung pagho-host natin ng Southeast Asian Games at napakagandang opportunity ito to show na ang Pilipinas ay hindi lang Metro Manila," he said.

Vargas resigned three weeks after he fired his predecessor, Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., membership committee head Robert Bachmann, 30th Southeast Asian Games Chef de Mission Monsour del Rosario, his deputy Charlie Ho, and POC first Vice President Joey Romasanta from the POC Executive Board on May 27 for convening POC executive board meetings without his  knowledge.

Vargas also fired officials Jeff Tamayo, Julian Camacho, Jonne Go, Clint Aranas and International Olympic Committee Representative Mikee Cojuangco for attending the meetings.

Cayetano said that as with any leadership change, there will be more discussions now on how to go about the event "but we'll cope with it."

"Wala namang indispensable sa amin. Makakaapekto pero wala namang indispensable sa amin. Maganda ang organisasyon ng SEA Games, maganda ang bilin ng ating Pangulo. We'll get it done," he added.

The 2019 SEA Games will take place in various cities in the Philippines from November 30 to December 11. — BM, GMA News