THE Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) insisted nothing will stand in the way of its mission to hold a successful 2019 Southeast Asian Games despite the controversy plaguing the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
Phisgoc chairman Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday said he is not bothered by the sudden leadership change at the POC nor the plan of the national Olympic body's new leaders to take over the SEA Games hosting.
Instead of aggravating the situation, Cayetano urged stakeholders to air concerns about the hosting in the proper forum with only five months to go before the SEA Games.
“Before coming here, I had a long chat with (Philippine Sports Commission) chairman Butch Ramirez. Pareho kami na we will follow the President’s instructions, we will work hard to have a good hosting and call for unity talaga,” Cayetano said during a press conference on Thursday.
Members of the POC board still loyal to former president Peping Cojuangco had questioned the creation of the Phisgoc Foundation which Cayetano led in the events that led to resignation of Ricky Vargas as POC president.
The POC, under new president Joey Romasanta bared plans to run the show in the SEA Games, claiming the Phisgoc is no more than an ad hoc committee.
Cayetano, however, explained the Phisgoc was given the mandate to run the hosting of the SEA Games in 2017 when Cayetano was chosen by President Duterte to lead the organization.
Former POC president Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez also agreed with the appointment making both the POC and PSC part of the Phisgoc board, he added.
At the same time, Cayetano said the POC delegated the organizing of the SEA Games to Phisgoc.
Cayetano said it came as a surprise to him that the legitimacy of the Phisgoc Foundation to run the affairs of the SEA Games and enter into contracts related to the hosting is now being questioned.
“Nagulat kami nung nabasa kami na may legal basis sila,” said the recently elected congressman of Taguig City. “We are past the halfway mark, malapit na tayo. Na-delay na nga ang budget natin ng four months, na-cut pa ng P2.5 billion.”
“Grabe ang pinagdaanan natin. We cannot afford any miscommunication, any intrigues, and any doubt in the minds of the athletes, coaches, the NSAs, the media, the international media, and the 11 countries of the SEA Games Federation,” said Cayetano.
Cayetano said the formation of the Phisgoc Foundation was no different from the creation of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc), the organizer of the 2005 Manila SEA Games.
“If you look at Philsoc and Phisgoc, kinopya namin doon eh. Kung sasabihin nila nung 2005 okay, bakit hindi okay ng 2019? Ano ang pinagkaibahan?” said Cayetano.
Cayetano said he is open to a dialogue with the POC board to sort things out, privately.
“Yung mga napaguusapan sa media ngayon last two days, hindi mga simpleng bagay. Pero mapaguusapan. We are not saying na kami lang ang may magandang idea. Pero please use the proper forum for those ideas,” he said.
“Let’s sit down anytime, over a cup of coffee, over lunch, over dinner, kayo mag-invite, kami mag-invite, we can figure this out. But let’s not make irresponsible statements because may implications lahat ‘yan,” said Cayetano.
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