(NI JEAN MALANUM)

KIKILALANIN pa rin ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) si Taguig Congressman-elect Allan Peter Cayetano bilang chairman ng ad hoc committee para sa hosting ng 30th Southeast Asian  Games.

Ayon kay POC acting president Jose Romasanta, si Cayetano ay mananatiling head ng organizing committee dahil siya ang itinalaga ni dating POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco noong 2017.

“The PHISGOC, however, has to function as a mere committee under the Olympic council rule and not as chief of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) Foundation, Inc., different body formed by Cayetano which he claimed should be on top of the organizing chores for the Games even if it does not have the POC Board’s approval,” ang sabi ni Romasanta sa press statement na inilabas kahapon.

Ang PHISGOC Foundation Inc. na itinatag noong presidente pa ng POC si Ricky Vargas ang naging in-charge sa lahat ng paghahanda sa SEA Games gaya ng paggawa ng official logo, mascot at iba pang marketing collaterals na walang pahintulot ng POC Executive Board.

Nag-resign noong nakaraang Martes si Vargas at si POC vice president Joey Romasanta ang tumatayong acting president.

Ang PHISGOC din ang sinisisi kung bakit mabagal ang build up sa SEA Games dahil marami ang nagtatanong kung ano na ang mga update sa transportation, accommodation, venues, parade uniform, volunteer program at marketing.

Sinabi ni Romasanta na kakausapin niya si Cayetano tungkol sa development ng SEA Games preparations, kasama na rin ang tungkol sa mga kontrata na pinasok ng PHISGOC Foundation na dapat ay naaayon sa POC Charter at By-Laws.

“This is a complex problem that needs simple solution. We have to revert to the original plan of having Sec. Cayetano as chairman of the organizing committee under the POC. With that, I am seeking a one-on-one meeting with him before forming a tripartite agreement with him and (Philippine Sports Commission) Chairman Butch Ramirez,” paliwanag ni Romasanta.

“We’re going to review these contracts. If they are within the authority given to the chairman (Cayetano) based on his appointment as chief of the organizing committee, and for as long as it accords with the POC charter and by-laws, then I don’t think there will be problems. We will ratify it,” ani Romasanta.

Nag-suggest rin si Romasanta na kailangang may cut-off sa mga petsa kung kelan ginawa ang mga kontrata.

“Another solution is to come up with a cut-off. We have to agree on the date we assumed position. We will be accountable for the contracts made after we assumed position while they will be answerable to those made before we got here,” sabi ni Romasanta na dating head ng Project Gintong Alay noong panahon ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos.

“There are a lot of ways to skin a cat. But at this point, the most important way is to make sure that we come up with a successful hosting of the Southeast Asian Games,” dagdag niya.