NAIS maimbestigahan ng Senado ang katotohanan kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay tumatangging isumite ng Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizational Committee (PHISGOC) ang financial statements at pagkakautang nito sa suppliers sa katatapos na 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Inihain ni Senador Leila M. de Lima ang Senate Resolution (SR) No. 557, na naglalayong obligahin ang PHISGOC na bayaran ang P387 milyon pagkakautang sa suppliers ng SEA Games at alamin ang sinasabing kurapsyon at mismanagement sa biennial sports meet.

“Given the controversies surrounding the 2019 SEA Games – from allegations of corruption and overspending to logistical nightmares and a bevy of complaints from foreign athletes and delegates – it is imperative for Senate and other agencies with supervision over PHISGOC to look into the matter,” sabi ni De Lima.

“There is a need to investigate these series of events to determine the cause of delay in the submission of PHISGOC’s financial statements and finally determine the truth behind the allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the PHISGOC during the 2019 SEA Games,” dagdag nito.

Noong Setyembre 30, o 9 buwan matapos ang SEA Games, inatasan ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) ang PHISGOC na pinamumunuan ni Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano bilang chairman, na isumite ang comprehensive report kabilang ang audited financial statement noong nakalipas na Oktubre 10 ngunit nabigo ito.

“This meant that the report should have been submitted on 9 February 2020, meaning, that the financial statements were already eight months overdue. The POC states that they are asking for the financial statements to enable them to perform their oversight functions, in accordance with their tripartite agreement,” paliwanag ni De Lima. (NOEL ABUEL)