Don’t look now, but House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano may be held accountable for any misstep or blunder in relation to the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) this November.

In a statement, Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo stressed that Cayetano may be answerable for any SEAG blunder once it kicks off on 30 November.

“Speaker Alan is accountable to all that relates the SEA Games, whatever misstep there, of course, because he is the one running it,” Panelo said. “But meanwhile, let’s not prejudge.”

Panelo noted that being the chief operating officer (COO) of the organizing committee in the Philippines’ hosting of the SEA Games, Cayetano is accountable for everything.

The Palace official’s statements come after Senate minority floor leader Sen. Franklin Drilon questioned the massive budget used in the construction of a giant cauldron related to the games worth P50 million.

Drilon earlier stressed that an investigation should be in order and the Commission on Audit (CoA) should conduct an audit report to look into the expenses incurred for the staging of the prestigious biennial meet.

In particular, the senator questioned the budget used for the construction of the SEA Games cauldron after finding out that it costs a total of P55.9 million — P4.4 million for the design, P13.4 million for the foundation and site construction, P32 million for the installation and P6 million for the wrist tag.

Drilon tagged the cauldron as extravagant and unnecessary, saying that somebody should be held accountable for this lavish expenditure, which is a clear abuse of fund meant for the national athletes.