BUSAN, South Korea — Malacañang will not seek accountability from organizers of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games despite the snags faced by athletes, President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman said Sunday night.

READ: PH SEA Games organizer sorry for transport, accommodation problems

ADVERTISEMENT

In a press briefing here, Salvador Panelo, who is also Duterte’s chief legal counsel, pointed out that the Philippine Sea Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) had already apologized for the delays in transportation and accommodation of athletes competing at the regional sports meet.

The Philippine-hosted 30th SEA Games will run from November 30 to December 11.

Panelo then repeated his previous apology for the “unintentional inconvenience” suffered by the guests.

READ: Palace apologizes for ‘unintentional inconvenience’ in SEA Games hosting

“You cannot discount any delays incident of non-transport and late checking in given the fact that there are many athletes coming to the Philippines. Natural lang ‘yun (It’s natural),” he said.

Pressed if the Duterte administration would seek accountability from or sanctions against SEA Games organizers, Panelo said: “Ok na ‘yun. Palagay ko gagawan na nila ng paraan.”

(Their apology is enough. I think they would find ways now.)

“Creativity lang ‘yun, dun siguro sila nagkulang pero baka nataranta lang… ‘Yun naman hindi naman gaano ka-grabe ‘yun eh,” he also said.

(They just lacked creativity, but maybe they just panicked… The snags were not that serious anyway.)

ADVERTISEMENT

Football players from Timor-Leste, Myanmar, and Thailand have complained about delayed transportation from the airport and sudden changes in hotel arrangement, while photos of the Cambodian football team sleeping on the floor circulated social media.

READ: SEA Games footballers from 4 countries get messy reception in Manila