Palace on SEA Games truce: They started war

MANILA,Philippines — Malacañang maintains that the offer of a truce on the bickering about the P50-million cauldron and the prices of other facilities to be used for the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) on Nov. 30 should come from the political opposition.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said it was Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon who drew first blood when he made noise about the cauldron. “Siya nag-umpisa. (He started it). We were just responding.”

Drilon has vowed to push for a Senate investigation into alleged irregularities in the preparations, value and use of the facilities, including the P50-million cauldron, and the P11-billion loan obtained in connection with the Games.

“First of all, the government is not bickering. We are just responding to a criticism. They are the ones bickering with us,” said Panelo, who was interviewed before leaving yesterday for Busan for the ASEAN-Korean commemorative summit.

He reiterated that Drilon was wrong in saying that the SEA Games cauldron in Clark City was overpriced.

“There is no basis for Drilon’s criticism against what a National Artist has crafted for this country, symbolizing the Philippines as well as our standing in the games. Maling-mali si Sen. Drilon doon (Drilon is very wrong), when the one in Singapore is worth P64 million,” he said.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who chairs the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee, yesterday urged the opposition to postpone its criticism of preparations for the Games, saying he would face the projected Senate inquiry into supposed irregularities after the event.

“Don’t worry, after the Games, you can attack me every day and I will face you. If there is need to file charges, charge me. But don’t do it before and during the Games for the sake of the nation and our athletes,” he told his opposition critics.

“They (opposition) were on television every day, holding press conferences in the morning, afternoon and evening. It’s really just all talk. It’s Operation All Talk. That’s what their ceasefire meant,” he said.

Panelo added Drilon was just politicking. “Wala, pampulitika lang yung kay Frank Drilon.”

Cayetano said the criticisms are embarrassing the country.

“Does it hurt the administration? Maybe a little. Does it hurt the country? Yes. Does it hurt the athletes? I hope not. It’s hurting our hosting of the SEA Games,” he said.

Panelo expressed belief that the morale of the Filipino athletes will not be affected by the exchange of words between administration allies and the political opposition.

With the Philippines having a home court advantage, he is hopeful that the country will be improving its performance in the SEA Games, slated to start next week.

“Haven’t you noticed, our athletes are doing well now, they are always getting gold. Maybe, this is their time to rise, to shine,” Panelo said. “We hope (to) get all medals. We hope to (get) more gold medals. That is our wish. But it’s hard to predict… like in basketball, the ball is round… Our wish is we have more gold medals compared to the previous one. Whether we are number one, number two, or number three.”

As host country for the 30th SEA Games, Sen. Sonny Angara said last Friday that the entire nation must be united and show its neighbors “what the world-famous Filipino hospitality is all about.”

“This is about the hosting of the Games – we must concentrate on that. Our athletes could become distracted if there are many issues. They should be focused only on their competitions,” the senator said.

As for the P50-million cauldron, Cayetano reiterated that it’s a work of art, being among the last pieces done by National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañosa before he died in February this year.

“I’m proud of it. It’s a monument. Believe me, in the future, people will be offering P100 million, P200 million, but we won’t sell because it will become a part of our national heritage, our culture and our history. It’s priceless,” he said. – With Jess Diaz