A staff arranges flags during a SEA Games event in June. On Tuesday, officials said a photo showing the national flag used as a table skirt was not from a SEA Games event this week. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA—A photo showing the Philippine flag used as a table skirt was from a different event, and not at the Southeast Asian Games this week, a Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) official said Tuesday.

“‪Upon investigating the alleged PH flag used as mantle for the catering, the said FB (Facebook) posting was found to be malicious and fake news,” PSC executive-director Guillermo Iroy told ABS-CBN News.

The PSC checked various SEA Games venues and found that the photo was not from this year’s competition, but from a different event, he said.

“We appreciate constructive criticism, but we deplore the fake news that came out just to create public outrage,” Iroy said.

“SEA Games should unite us rather than divide us.”

Officials debunked claims surrounding the flag amid a hail of criticism with the way some foreign athletes have been treated.

“Hindi natin maiiwasan ’yung small glitches, minor glitches, but all of those are already solved and meron pong solution,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol" Tolentino said.

“I hope maintindihan ng iba, lalong-lalo na kulang ng year ang preparation natin. Remember dapat sa Brunei 'to,” he said.