Hotel denies serving kikiam to PHL women's football team

The WhiteWoods Hotel has clarified that it was chicken sausage and not kikiam that was served to the Philippine women’s football team that will participate in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, which the Philippines is hosting.

In a letter to Philippine chef de mission of 2019 SEA Games William Ramirez , hotel president Edgardo Capulong said they have proof that kikiam was not in their menu.

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

“We never serve kikiam because we do not have it and it is not in our menu,” Capulong said in his letter, adding that the food audit team of Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) can attest to this.

According to Capulong, other Filipino athletes were aware that what they ate was chicken sausage.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, commissioner Ramon Fernandez of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Wednesday also denied that kikiam was served to the athletes.

“In the first place, sino bang nagsabi noon? Hindi naman pala totoo. Kung saan yung playing venue ng sports na yan, doon naka-billet sa hotel na malapit doon, so ang  mga atleta diyan kumakain sa hotel,” he said.

“Imposible naman yun. Gawa-gawa lang ng mga bashers. Ginagawang politika na ang SEA Games,” he added.

In the letter dated November 25, Capulong told Ramirez that the Philippine team brought lechon for dinner without coordinating with the food committee, which is a violation of their agreement. It was discussed that no oil and pork should be served due to the “sensitivity issue” with Muslim athletes.

Capulong also noted that the hotel’s dining hall is certified “Halal friendly.” Halal is a term used for food that is permissible according to Islamic law.

“We are so sad because our very own Pinoy athletes are the very first one to destroy our dignity as Filipinos," Capulong wrote.

“What is the point of winning gold for our country if we recklessly destroy other people and our honor as a nation and the Philippine Sports Commission as an institution,” he added. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News