Bomb threats force Aussies to pull out of MFG

CAGAYAN DE ORO – The absence of the Australian delegates was conspicuously felt as the second Mindanao Friendship Games colorfully kicked off yesterday at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Center in this capital city of Northern Mindanao.

Philippine Sports Commission officials said the football team from Darwin, Australia decided not to attend and compete in an exhibition game in the second MFG because of fear of the bombings that have rocked the Philippines in recent weeks.

"The coach of the team has been here during the preparations. However, after the Bali, Indonesia bombings where hundreds of Australians died plus the recent spate of bombings in Mindanao forced the team to cancel their participation," PSC commissioner William ‘Butch’ Ramirez told The STAR in an interview.

Ramirez also said the cancellation of the Darwin Football Association (DFA) team’s participation in the Games is a big loss of income for the city’s business community.

Not taking the threat of terrorists and bombers lightly, the police beefed up security here.

Mayor Vicente Emano and even Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) have confirmed that this city is one of the targets of bombers.

About 4,000 athletes converged at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center yesterday. Most of the delegates arrived in this Northern Mindanao city as early as Wednesday.

Ramirez disclosed that the security of the participants billeted in the 15 schools all over the city has been tightened, including the Games’ venue, the 27-year-old Pelaez Sports Center whose renovation began only two weeks ago due to financial constraints, an official of the host province said.

The province of Misamis Oriental has been tasked to do repairs on the venue while the city government took care of the billeting and the other handled organization of the games. The PSC, however, is taking the technical aspect of the Games.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Antonio Calingin wrote Malacañang for a financial assistance of about P40 million for the complete renovation of the dilapidated sports center. Unfortunately, Malacañang turned it down, an official said.

Calingin made do with the measly P1 million for repainting and repair of areas that would be used.

Only the main grandstand of the sports center have been declared safe while the North and the South grandstand are closed to the public for fear that it might collapse.

Ramirez urged the public to understand the limitations of the venue for the sake of the Games.

"We made it sure that money could not hinder us to pursue the Games whose goal is to help bridge the gap between Muslims, Christians and Lumads that could perhaps foster unity and peace in the island," he said.

Since the sports center could not accommodate all the 18 various sports disciplines, the city prepared another 15 venues where the other nine sports events can be played.

Ramirez expressed optimism that economic activities in the city would increase as the participants in this year’s Games doubled.

"Most of them would be bringing their relatives. Thus, it could also help the local economy here," he said.

While stressing that national, professional and former professional players are disqualified from the Games, Ramirez said Manila-based companies are watching the Games to scout for players who have potentials.

"No one knows. There might be potential athletes that might break records of reigning national athletes and these companies might offer them a good break," he said.

Meanwhile, Manila-based media personalities coveringthe Games expressed dismay over the dilapidated state of the venue.

"Bakit ganoon? Akala namin malaki ang ginastos ng gobyerno dito pero bakit ang track oval ay dirt," asked one reporter from a big national daily.

Spectators also expressed apprehension over the lack of security measures being implemented in the venue after observing that those assigned to guard the place are so lax. – Bong Fabe