Malacañang on Thursday said that the Filipino people are all winners in their own right following the country’s successful hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar made the remark as the 30th staging of the biennial event formally closed at the New Clark City athletics stadium in Capas, Tarlac Wednesday night.

In a statement, Andanar said the country’s successful hosting of the SEA Games would not have been possible if not for the hard work done by the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), which has translated into the Games successes.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to the Phisgoc and also to all the volunteers that have made our hosting of the 30th SEA Games truly exemplary,” Andanar said.

“We would like to congratulate everyone for their participation in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. We are all winners in our own right, because we all embody the spirit of sportsmanship and we share the singular vision of being a one big regional community,” he added.

At the same time, Andanar said that it was a delight to have hosted the SEA Games this year, the biggest to date with a total of 56 sports including the first inclusion of eSports and obstacle course competitions.

“We are also extending as our praises to the Philippine delegation for claiming the overall championship of this edition of the SEA Games. You have shown that Filipinos are topnotch athletes and you have made us and all of our countrymen around the world proud of your excellent achievements,” Andanar said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP), particularly personnel deployed to secure the just-concluded 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, will remain on heightened alert until the “last foreign delegate has left the country.”

This was the order issued by officer-in-charge PLt. Gen. Archie Gamboa on Thursday, stressing that the police’s job in securing the biennial meet does not end with the closing ceremonies held last Wednesday evening.