By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno / Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The remainder of the Philippine delegation to the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics has returned home after attending the Games’ closing ceremony.
The last batch of the Olympic squad, which is mainly composed of the boxing team that won three medals during the final week of the event, flew in via Philippine Airlines flight PR427 and arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at around 5 p.m. Monday (Aug. 9).
Senate Committee on Sports Chairman Sen. Bong Go and Executive Sec. Salvador Medialdea personally welcomed silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, and medal contender Irish Magno.
Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes also welcomed Airman First Class Marcial and the rest of the boxers.
The Philippine boxing team had its most fruitful Olympics yet, scoring multiple medals for the first time ever.
The boxing team was accompanied by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who earlier promised to give a P3 million cash reward for an Olympic gold medal, P2 million for a silver medal, and P1 million for a bronze medal, as well as a house and lot for medalists.
The most bemedaled boxing team later paid a virtual courtesy call on President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who gave them additional cash rewards on top of the incentives provided by law.
Duterte said Petecio and Paalam each will receive P2 million while Marcial will get P1 million. He also said other Olympians who did not win a medal will receive P200,000 each.
Based on Republic Act No. 10699 or An Act Expanding the Coverage of Incentives Granted to National Athletes and Coaches, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz will get P10 million for winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal, Petecio and Paalam will receive P5 million each, and Marcial will take home P2 million. (PNA) – jlo
