President Rodrigo Roa Duterte congratulated on Monday the members of the Philippine boxing team for their successful campaign in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, giving them additional cash incentives on top of the bonuses they will receive from the government.
“It is not an everyday occurrence that we receive such an honor from our citizens of the Republic of the Philippines,” President Duterte said during the virtual courtesy call of the Filipino boxers on the chief executive following their arrival from Japan.
“You went to Tokyo to fight and I, well, say that you did your best and the Filipino people appreciates it, especially bringing honor to the country. You all won in that.”
The Philippine team is composed of Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno. The Filipino boxers brought home three medals in different weight divisions.
Paalam and Petecio both finished with silver medals at the men’s flyweight and women’s featherweight divisions, respectively while Marcial secured the bronze medal in the men’s middleweight division.
During the courtesy call, the President announced his office will grant cash incentives to the athletes in the Tokyo Olympics in addition to the incentives extended by the state under the law. The law grants P5 million for silver medalist and P2 million for bronze medalist.
President Duterte said Paalam and Petecio will both receive additional P2 million from the Office of the President. Marcial will receive an additional P1 million while Irish Magno will get P200,000.
Also, Filipino athletes who participated in the Tokyo Olympics will receive P200,000 each from the Office of the President.
The medalists will also be conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu and all those who competed in the Games will be given Presidential citations, according to the President.
“That is [an] honor given by the Republic of the Philippines to those who have excelled in something and brought honor to the country,” the President said of the Order of Lapu-Lapu to be conferred on the successful athletes.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics is so far the most successful campaign for the Philippines, garnering the most number of medals since participating in the Games.
Aside from the medals brought by the Filipino boxers, Hidilyn Diaz produced the country’s first-ever gold in the women’s 55-kilogram weightlifting category. PND
