SEA Games cancellation well justified

The government spent more than P500 million hosting the SEA Games here in 2005, according to Butch Ramirez.

We are supposed to host it again in 2019 after Brunei had backed off. But Butch, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chieftain, said President Duterte had nixed the hosting.

Butch quoted the President as saying the budget earmarked for the 2019 SEA Games would instead be used to alleviate poverty and to fund the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi. I think that makes sense. Latest stats say 2.2 million Filipinos went hungry in 2016. And, as of last accounting, the government needs no less than P2 billion to put Marawi back on its feet.

Just imagine the amount of money we will save from not hosting the 2019 SEA Games. It could run to billions, given inflationary constraints and all.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is protesting the President’s decision.

But, of course. It has millions of reasons to do so, one of which would be a lost opportunity for the POC to earn “pogi points” on the world Olympic stage.

But Butch is standing by Mr. Duterte’s position.

And wasn’t Butch even sarcastic when he said, “The POC has not even liquidated some P27 million from the 2005 SEA Games expenses and here they are, bawling for money again.” The gall. By law, the government, through the PSC, spends lavishly for sports. But, weirdly, the bulk of spending in the SEA Games is done by the POC.

Indeed, it seems so easy to spend money that is not yours. Easy come, easy go. Liquidation? Tell that to the Ombudsman.

ALA. Again, a love letter from my BFF aka Tony Aldeguer.

“Hi Al! Just read your column today in SunStar (25 July 2017)! No, I wasn’t angry Al.

“I was more hurt but that is a thing of the past now. Our friendship is more solid and stable than a rock and no emotion should come between it! By the way, I have long cut my mustache. No need to trim it anymore! Hehehehehe!

“Take care my friend and please give my respect to your commander-in-chief! Your wife, of course! Hope to see you in Cebu!...Tony.”

We’ll have coffee soon, Tony, but on one condition: Grow that mustache again. Without it, you are not you.