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'Sila muna': Robredo seeks support for Pinoy athletes amid SEA Games issues

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday called for support for Filipino athletes, who she said are being set aside amid budget and logistics controversies in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.&quot;Sa gitna ng napakaraming kontrobersiya, hindi natin nabibigyan-halaga iyong sakripisyo ng ating mga atleta. Hindi natin nakikita kung ano iyong pinagdadaanan nila para ma-represent lang iyong ating bansa,&quot; she said in her weekly radio program.(Amid so many controversies, we are not giving importance to our athletes&#x27; sacrifices. We do not see what they are going through just to represent our country.)&quot;Marami tayong mga puna, maraming kung ano-ano, pero ngayon kasi malapit na masyado—sila muna, sila muna iyong gawin natin pinakamahalaga.&quot;(We have many observations, but for now that the Games is almost here—let&#x27;s prioritize them.)Robredo said she hopes the Filipino athletes&#x27; performance would not be affected by the issues.&quot;Dapat lahat tayo nagra-rally behind them, dapat sila iyong inaalagaan natin ngayon, kasi sila talaga iyong magre-representa sa atin,&quot; she said.(We should all rally behind them, we should take care of them because they will be representing us.)&quot;Sana hindi sila naapektuhan noong mga lahat na masasamang nangyayari at nangyari. Iyong atin, pagpadala sa kanila ng ating matinding mga dasal at pag-good luck.&quot;(I hope they would not be affected by all the bad things that happened and are happening. For us, we would send them our prayers and good luck.)Critics have slammed the multimillion-peso cauldron that would be used in the SEA Games&#x27; opening ceremony on Nov. 30. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/21/19/look-whats-inside-multimillion-2019-sea-games-cauldron">LOOK: What&#x27;s inside multimillion 2019 SEA Games cauldron?</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/19/19/product-of-the-mind-duterte-defends-p45-m-sea-games-cauldron">&#x27;Product of the mind&#x27;: Duterte defends P45-M SEA Games cauldron</a></li></ul>Sen. Franklin Drilon also questioned why the government transferred P700 million to private foundation Philippine Southeast Asian Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), headed by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/19/19/drilon-questions-p700-m-fund-released-to-phisgoc">Drilon questions P700-M fund released to PHISGOC</a></li></ul>Several neighboring countries also encountered transportation and accommodation hitches on their football teams&#x27; arrivals in Manila, prompting PHISGOC to issue an apology.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/24/19/sea-games-phisgoc-apologizes-as-travel-hotel-woes-hound-football-teams">SEA Games: PHISGOC apologizes as travel, hotel woes hound football teams</a></li></ul>The 30th SEA Games, hosted by the Philippines, will be held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday called for support for Filipino athletes, who she said are being set aside amid budget and logistics controversies in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday called for support for Filipino athletes, who she said are being set aside amid budget and logistics controversies in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.