Ramon Suzara will remain as chief operating officer of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) heading into the final stretch of the country’s preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

But Phisgoc chairman House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano asserted that Suzara may no longer be as active as before as they are set to come up with “reassignment of roles” with other stakeholders like the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) getting more involved.

Talks about Suzara’s sacking have been floating for the past several days.

Multiple sources claimed the decision to let Suzara go was reached over the weekendfollowingameetingamongranking officials like Cayetano, PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino last Friday.

Insiders said there would be a new setup in which Ramirez will have a more active role in the day-to-day operations of the organizing body since he also serves as chief of mission of the entire Philippine Team.

The new setup will be formalized when Phisgoc board of trustees meets at the House of Representatives today to discuss the creation of an executive committee and overall in-charge of the SEA Games preparation.

Tribune tried, but Suzara couldn’t be reached for comment.

Members of his inner circle, however, claimed that he is in Japan to attend to his commitments to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

RAMON Suzara keeps his position at Phisgoc.

“The period of planning and establishing the foundation is over and there could be some reassignment of roles. We’re already with the day-to-day operations, but the partnership of the PSC, POC and Phisgoc continues,” Cayetano said.

The Speaker, however, denied that Suzara is already on the way out.

“Not really. We are just reassessing the role of every single person, especially given that some of our sports leaders have prior commitments like Mr. Suzara,” he said.

“We are thinking of elevating two or three other officials who have been doing hard work and serve as hammers. They will be the one who will hammer what needs to be done in the next two months. But it’s not a major shakeup.”