Malacañang is tipped to issue an Executive Order (EO) that would mobilize the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and other agencies to take the lead in the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said an EO “is forthcoming” after President Rodrigo Duterte declared that the government should spearhead the hosting in lieu of the embattled Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Foundation Inc., a private body that is headed by Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano. In an exclusive pre-State of the Nation Address interview with Daily Tribune late Thursday, the President said Phisgoc should be taken out of the SEA Games equation since the government will account for the massive budget of P6 billion for the hosting. We are always ready for any eventuality as government servants. Rest assured that we’re doing our best to ensure the success of the SEA Games. “I have to be responsible for this. Me, personally, give it (SEA Games) to the government,” Duterte told Daily Tribune in a meeting at the Malacañang Palace. “First, it should be the government. It is the most interested in winning medals. Foundation only muddles up the issue. So many fingers are dipping on the hosting. It’s not necessarily corruption, but it should be the government only.” When asked if the POC should also play an active role since it is the franchise-holder of the biennial meet in accordance to the mandate given by the SEA Games Federation Council, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC), the President said: “Yes, it should be.” Now, Panelo believes that an EO is already in order. “Since he made the statement, then that is forthcoming. That is his position. He doesn’t want the Foundation involved,” said Panelo when asked if Mr. Duterte will be issuing an EO to fire up the new setup with PSC at the helm. There’s an urgent need for the President to issue an EO. When the hosting of the biennial meet was formalized in 2017, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued Memorandum Circular 56 that encourages all government agencies and controlled corporations, including the PSC, to rally behind Phisgoc in preparing for the biennial meet set from 30 November to 15 December at the New Clark City in Tarlac. But the SEA Games preparations went sour as reports of delays, inefficiency and questionable deals with some suppliers started to surface. The creation of Phisgoc Foundation even led to the resignation of former POC president Ricky Vargas as it was found out that he was one of the eight original incorporators of the body without seeking the approval of the POC executive council. You know the President, anything that involves corruption angers him. With Vargas no longer around, POC first vice president Joey Romasanta assumed the position while the IOC and OCA have yet to call for special elections. The polls are set on 28 July. Panelo said it appears that these reports have already reached the table of the President. “It could be that,” Panelo said in a press briefing. “You know the President, anything that involves corruption angers him. It’s very likely that those reports have reached him already.” PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and Romasanta declared readiness to follow the President’s mandate. In fact, they are set to meet at 10 a.m. today at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex to get the ball rolling and discuss the new set up. Then, Ramirez will sit down with the national sports association leaders in an assessment meeting on Wednesday to know how he can help them win medals. “We will abide by the orders coming from the President,” said Ramirez, who is also the chief of mission of Team Philippines. “We are always ready for any eventuality as government servants. Rest assured that we’re doing our best to ensure the success of the SEA Games.” Romasanta said he’s looking forward to working with Ramirez and the government as they enter the final four months of their preparation. “We will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss this new set up,” Romasanta said. “The POC is very much looking forward to working with Butch and the PSC to make sure that our hosting will still be a success despite all the setbacks we had.”