MANILA, Philippines — The Palace will ask Southeast Asian (SEA) Games organizers to defer or give a fifty (50) percent discount to students who want to watch the Games so that they can provide support to Filipino athletes as well.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said “even people with disabilities and senior citizens should be excluded from the entrance if they watch SEA Games.”

It was learned that the organizers of the SEA Games imposed a ticket fee to raise money for the maintenance of sports venues.

Former Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella, current president of the Philippines Weightlifting Association (SWP), told President Duterte to direct Phisgoc to release tickets to Filipinos who want to watch sports events so that they can provide moral support to Filipino athletes as well.

“Since we are using billions of government funds, why are we still commercializing the Games? Aren’t these billions enough? How can we avail of the home court advantage in this manner, (if we won’t allow Filipino citizens free access)?” Puentevella said. (Chris Figueroa/IAMIGO/CNS)