PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez minced no words in toppling hopes by the Philippine Olympic Committee’s (POC) effort to appeal to President Duterte to reconsider the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Ramirez cited three reasons the government withdrew from the 29th SEA Games hosting with the P27 million in unliquidated financial assistance to the POC for the 2005 Games emerging as the most onerous.
“They [POC] have to explain to the Commission on Audit why we have to host the 2019 Games if the 2005 funding have yet to be resolved,” Ramirez told Palace reporters on Thursday.
The government, through the PSC, released a P500-million funding to the POC for the 2005 SEA Games. But P27 million of the funds remain unaccounted for by the POC.
“It’s really time for our leaders to behave, and show leadership and integrity. If you do not have that honest picture, how can you lead sports?” Ramirez stressed.
Ramirez said the terrorist threat and the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City are the other compelling reasons for the withdrawal—on top of the hundreds of millions expected to be poured into the renovation of existing sports infrastructure.
The PSC has earlier stressed in its letter to the POC that instead of spending for the SEA Games, government funds would be directed to Marawi City and Mindanao.
“There are many areas that need sports facilities and sports programs. There are many things that are taking place right now. While it is sad and painful not to host the SEA Games, we are a bad situation right now,” he said.
Brunei Darussalam was supposed to host the 2019 edition but announced its decision to withdraw during the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore. The POC, led by its President Jose Cojuangco Jr., immediately expressed their desire to take over and was immediately approved by the SEA Games Federation.
The POC and national sports association officials agreed during the body’s general assembly on Wednesday that they will appeal to Malacañang to reconsider its decision.
But Ramirez said the Palace has spoken.
“The President, Executive Secretary [Salvador] Medialdea instructed me not to push through with the Southeast Asian Games. I leave it to them,” Ramirez said.