By Lily O Ramos
MANILA, (PNA)– Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) officials are now closely monitoring the security situation in Myanmar as three major cities– Yangoon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw have been rocked by bombings on Thursday; killing two people including an American tourist and injuring several others.
Col.Jeff Tamayo, Philippine chef de mission to the Myanmar SEA Games, said that he, being a retired military officer, will closely coordinate with Col. Ade Navata, a high ranking official of the AFP intelligence department or OJ-2 to conduct a hazard vulnerability analysis or assessment which will determine the level of danger probabilities and risks of the situation including preparedness of the hosts in handling the situation.
Tamayo during his military service was presidential escorts commander of then vice presidents Joseph Estrada and Teofisto Guingona continued to serve until the time Estrada became the country’s President.
PSC chairman Richie Garcia said that his agency will keenly watch the situation in Myanmar in the next two months.
Garcia said that he will not allow anything to endanger the lives of our national athletes, thus if the Myanmar security situation gets worse in the coming months, he might even suggest to call off the country’s participation in the 27th Myanmar biennial games.