BUSAN — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered an investigation into the country’s organisation of the 2019 South-east Asian (SEA) Games, reported the Philippine media. 

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo was quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Manila Times as saying on Tuesday (Nov 26) that the investigation on “allegations of incompetence and corruption” thrown at the organising committee could take place during the Games, which is held from Nov 30 to Dec 11. The committee is headed by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. 

Mr Panelo said: “Let’s put it this way, the President is not pleased (with) what he’s been hearing about certain snafus, certain delays, certain allegations of athletes not being fed properly, athletes arriving late or not on time delivered to their places of rest or residence.

“He’s displeased. He doesn’t want this. There were allegations of fraud coming out in the papers. He doesn’t like that too.”

Mr Panelo was speaking to the media in Busan, where Mr Duterte was attending the Asean-Korea Summit. 

Since Sunday when athletes from the participating countries started arriving in the Philippines, the host nation has come under fire over the shabby welcome. 

Delegates from Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Timor-Leste had complained that they waited hours at the airport or were driven to the wrong hotel.

On Tuesday, there were also media reports that there was insufficient halal food for Muslim athletes. AGENCIES