(NI BERNARD TAGUINOD)

GAME si  Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Commission (Phisgoc) chairman House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano sa ikinakasang imbestigasyon ng Office of the Ombudsman sa hosting ng Phisgoc sa SEA Games.

“Two weeks ago, when the SEA Games was under attack by groups out to discredit the government with fake news reports of unpreparedness and corruption, I already announced that we not only welcome, but are ourselves calling for an investigation by the proper agencies at the right time to clear the air about these unfounded allegations,” ani Cayetano.

Ginawa ng House leader ang nasabing pahayag matapos bumuo si Ombudman Samuel Martirez ng 7-man panel na mag-iimbestiga sa Phisgoc lalo na sa paggamit ng pondo, tatlong araw bago matapos ang SEA Games.

“We welcome this as an opportunity to put to rest all the questions so that we may move forward in celebrating the success of our athletes and honoring the sacrifices of our workforce and volunteers,” ayon pa kay Cayetano.

Tiniyak nito na ibibigay nito at ng Phisgoc ang buong suporta sa imbestigasyon ng Office of the Ombudsman at handa umano ang mga ito na ipabulatlat ang kanilang libro.

Ngayon pa lamang ay tiniyak ni Cayetano na walang anomalya sa paggamit ng pondo subalit handa umano ang mga na makipagtulungan sa Office of the Ombudsman upang magkalinawan umano.

Inamin ni Cayetano na binalaan na siya noong una nang hingin ang kanyang tulong para sa pag-organisa sa SEAG bagay na kanyang binalewala kahit hanggang ngayon, ang mga organizer ng 2005 SEA Games ay nakikipaglaban pa sa kasong isinampa laban sa kanila.

“But I did not hesitate simply because I knew this is not about me. This is about representing the country, and I have never shied away from that. I took on the challenge just as every single volunteer took on theirs, and for the same reason – because we believe that it is about time we show the world what a unified Filipino nation is capable of doing,” ani Cayetano.

“I accepted this challenge because He called me to take it up. Not for myself, but for our athletes and for our country. And now, it is in Him that I place my trust,” dagdag pa nito.