President Rodrigo Duterte may order an investigation of the corrupt practices and anomalies hounding the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo bared that the Chief Executive is seriously mulling the possibility of calling for a probe after the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Foundation Inc. was blamed for various controversies in the country’s preparation for the prestigious biennial meet.

Headed by Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, Phisgoc has no authority from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to run the country’s hosting of the SEA Games.

In fact, when former POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco lost in a court-ordered election last year, his successor in Ricky Vargas spearheaded the formation of Phisgoc Foundation, a new body that was different from the ad hoc committee that the POC executive board ratified to organize the SEA Games.

POC board members questioned Vargas.

But instead of shedding light, Vargas tendered his irrevocable resignation, prompting the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Council of Asia to call for special elections on 28 July.

Even without Vargas, Phisgoc continues to exist, but allegations of corruption and delays in the preparations started to surface, including a reported botched deal with an apparel company.

Daily Tribune obtained a copy of the quotation that Phisgoc prepared and it shows that a polo shirt costs P5,150; roundneck shirt P2,480, track jacket P6,310; track pants P7,400; shorts P5,100; socks P2,700; backpack P3,190; running shoes P3,950; and cap P2,400.

In a media interview, Cayetano justified the amount,

saying that: “These are all Olympic-quality.”

Panelo said the President wants to get to the bottom

of the issue.

“He (Mr. Duterte) said: ‘There’s so much corruption

there with the private group.’ It disrupts the work of others. That’s why he said he wants the government to do it,” said Panelo in a press briefing Tuesday at Malacañang.

In an exclusive pre-State of the Nation Address interview with Daily Tribune, the President said a purely private body like Phisgoc Foundation should be taken out of the SEA Games equation since the government will account for the massive P6-billion budget for the hosting.

Mr. Duterte said the government, through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), should be on top of the hosting to have a semblance of accountability.

Panelo, in a separate press briefing, hinted that an Executive Order may be on its way.

“I have to be responsible for this. Me, personally, give it (SEA Games) to the government,” the President said. “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.”

Panelo, however, clarified that even without the

President’s directives, allegations of anomalies have to be investigated right away.

“As a matter of standard procedure, if there is corruption, supposed to be the agencies concerned in the investigation must delve into that without being asked by the President,” the official said.

Asked if they have already informed the Phisgoc Foundation or Cayetano about the looming investigation, Panelo said “we will call” the legislator about the matter.

The Palace already reached out to ranking POC, PSC and Phisgoc officials to discuss the matter.

Their meeting is set on Thursday at 12 noon.