Palace: Alleged lack of support for some Asiad delegates to be probed

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into reports that some Filipino athletes, particularly members of the Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team, had to pay out of pocket for food during the ongoing Asian Games in Japan.

Palace press officer Claire Castro said Marcos does not want Filipino athletes representing the country to struggle because the government is failing to respond to their needs.

“First and foremost, this will be investigated so we can determine what our athletes and players actually experienced,” Castro said in a briefing on Monday.

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“The president does not want those representing our country to be the ones suffering because it appears that the government is not responding to their needs,” she added.

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According to Castro, the Marcos administration would first determine what actually happened before making any concrete conclusions.

READ: Inquirer’s special coverage of the 2026 Asian Games

The probe would determine where the shortcomings are, who may be at fault, and whether the statements are accurate and supported by facts.

“Those who abuse their authority, especially when there are issues involving public funds, should indeed be held accountable,” Castro said.

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“They should not think they can simply benefit from or take advantage of the situation without facing consequences,” she added.

Malacañng’s statement came after Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team captain Bryan Bagunas raised concerns about inadequate financial support for the team, including instances when athletes allegedly had to pay for their own meals during the Asian Games.

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READ: Alas Pilipinas men struggling with lack of support, says Bagunas

“Of course, the support is important. Regarding our allowance, some players have even started borrowing money from their teammates or other people just to get to training or go home,” Bagunas said.

“It’s really tough for us to train. Sometimes, only seven or eight of us are able to attend because some players can’t make it,” he added.

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Bagunas said their allowance comes from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), while other expenses often come out of their own pockets. /gsg