Duterte admits ‘negligence’ in SEA Games preparations

Manila: President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged what he called “negligence” in the preparations for the country’s hosting of the 30th South-East Asian (SEA) Games.

“I am not attributing it to anybody. But you know it’s a huge fund and there ought not to have been problems like even logistics and things, ” Duterte said on Monday.

“And even in the food, and in the billeting of the hotel, they didn’t know which hotel... If you would ponder on it. It’s actually negligence or unforeseen events that you failed to prepare for.

“These things could have been avoided if you used the money correctly, ” he added.

Without naming the Philippine South-East Asian Games Organising Committee, Duterte said the organisers handled their job “not really with precision” and could have “avoided the critical situations and mishaps”.

The president had ordered an investigation into alleged irregularities in the SEA Games preparations.

He also apologised to the foreign athletes for the reception accorded to them. — Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN