Palace cancels ’19 SEAG hosting

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government has withdrawn its commitment to host the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019 as an offshoot of the crisis in Marawi.

Speaking on behalf of Malacañang, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez yesterday said after deliberation, it was decided to decline the hosting that’s estimated to cost P7.5-billion and instead channel the government’s resources to rebuilding Marawi and Mindanao.

“Due to the current situation in Mindanao and the problem of terrorism and atrocities, we regret to inform you that we will no longer push through with the hosting of the biennial event,” Ramirez explained in a letter to Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco yesterday.

“It has been resolved that government resources be focused on the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Mindanao especially Marawi,” Ramirez added.

Although the SEA Games is essentially a private undertaking, government guarantee and financial support are necessities in hosting the 11-country biennial meet.

The POC, the organization affiliated with the SEAG, has yet to issue a statement on Ramirez’s announcement.

“We would always support our national athletes in their quest for medals and honors in the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur this August until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Further, when all is clear and peace and order had improved after 2020 Olympics and in the future, we are positive and willing to host the SEA Games or any other international sporting events,” Ramirez assured. 

The PSC chair said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Sen. Migs Zubiri, the government-designed chairman of the SEAG organizing committee, and he had been discussing the possibility of a backout for a few weeks already.

“We (even) had a meeting with POC, Malacañang, Migs Zubiri four weeks ago and there was a preliminary pronouncement from Executive Secretary that baka ito ang hahantungan natin (backing out may be an option),” said Ramirez.