By Erma Edera
House Speaker and Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano said Wednesday that there is a political group that is trying to sabotage their efforts to host the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the country.
Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Chairman and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (Alan Peter Cayetano / Facebook page/ MANILA BULLETIN)
“There is really a political group who wanted us to fail, unfortunately, kawawa naman mga atleta at yung bansa,” (pity the athletes and the country), Cayetano said in an ambush interview at the Coronado Lanes in Mandaluyong City on the sidelines of men’s doubles bowling tournament.
Although they have yet to identify the individuals behind the group, he said that he would make sure that they would face investigations and possibly arrest them after spreading disinformation about the country’s hosting of the biennial regional sporting meet.
“We’re not saying it’s perfect so hold us accountable afterwards. But let’s hold accountable yung mga sumadya na gumawa ng hashtag SEAgamesfail,” he said. (those who did the hashtag SEAgamesfail.)
“In the same manner that you’ll hold us accountable after na lumabas yung totoo, ilalabas din naming yung mga tumarget na magfail ang SEA games because this is really a crime against the whole country,” he added.
The Phisgoc chairman said that in the meantime, Filipinos should show that the country is a good host to its neighbors.
“Hindi okay ito so right now let’s show that we’re good host. Ipakita natin sa mga bisita natin mahal natin sila. Let’s have friendly competition and let’s cheer sa lahat na atleta na well deserving applause at pagchecheer sa kanila,” Cayetano said.