Senator Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go, chairman of the Senate sports committee, said today he would conduct a parallel investigation on allegations of corruption against Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).
(OFFICE OF SEN. BONG GO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Malacañang has declared it is up to the Office of the Ombudsman and the House of Representatives to investigate such allegations.
‘’Kung merong magsasampa ng reklamo o resolution sa Senado, handa po tayo at hindi ako mag-aatubiling isagawa ang parallel investigation on the allegations against PHISGOC on top of what the Ombudsman and the House of Representatives are doing now,’’ he said, (I will immediately schedule a parallel investigation once there is a complaint or resolution lodged with the Senate on allegations against PHISGOC…’’ _
‘’Ang importante naman po ay malaman ng taumbayan ang katotohanan. Nagsabi naman po ang PHISGOC, PSC, POC at iba pang nag-organisa ng hosting natin noong 2019 Southeast Asian Games na handa silang sagutin ang mga alegasyon laban sa kanila. Kamakailan, kinausap ko rin ang DBM upang matulungan ang PSC at PHISGOC na mabayaran ang mga hindi pa nababayaran na suppliers kaugnay ng hosting natin noong 2019 SEA Games,’’ he said.
(What is important is for the public to know the truth. PHISGOC, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and others who helped in the hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games said that they are ready to answer corruption allegations against them. Recently, I talked to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to help PSC and PHISGOC pay their debts to suppliers in relation to the hosting of the 2019 SEA Games.)
‘’Kung ano ang utang, dapat mabayaran. Obligasyon nila ito, lalo na 'yung para sa mga maliliit na mga suppliers at mga suweldo ng mga taong naghirap upang maging maganda ang hosting natin ng nakaraang SEA Games,’’ he added, (What is owed must be paid. This is their obligation to the small suppliers and wages of those who helped make hosting of the past SEA Games successful.)
Ibigay na kaagad dahil ayaw natin na ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino ang pumapasan sa kakulangan ng iilan na makapagbayad on time. Meron pa naman tayong pandemyang hinaharap at marami sa mga kababayan natin ang naghihirap pa rin,’’ he stressed. (We should pay them on time. Particularly now that there is a COVID-19 pandemic and many of our countrymen are facing difficulties)
‘’Napakaganda ng hosting natin ng SEA Games. Naipakita natin sa buong mundo ang galing ng atletang Pilipino. Huwag sana ito masayang, aksyunan na natin ang mga naiwang mga obligasyon at tuldukan na ang mga isyu na konektado rito,’’ he added. (We had a successful hosting of the SEA Games. We showed to the world the prowess of our Filipino athletes. This should not be soiled, act on these obligations and put a period to the issues.)