President Duterte pledged to give Filipino Olympic Gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz P3 million and a fully furnished house in her hometown of Zamboanga City for giving the country pride at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics this week.
Duterte made the gesture during Diaz's virtual courtesy call on him on Wednesday, July 28, shortly after her flight home from Japan.
In their meeting aired live over State-run channels, President Duterte expressed pride about Diaz's achievement being the country's first Olympic Gold medalist since the Philippines took part in the event in 1924.
"As expected, the nation is ecstatic about your achievement. Your achievement is the achievement of the Philippine nation," he said.
"We are extremely proud. We cannot express even in the words how we should really be shouting Hallelujah," he added.
The President said he would give Diaz, a member of the Philippine Air Force, a fully furnished home in Zamboanga. The unit that was given to her was part of the government's housing project for soldiers.
"Diyan sa Zamboanga meron akong projects-- house and lot para sa mga sundalo (I have housing projects there in Zamboanga for soldiers)," he said.
"Hindi mo na ito kailangan-- Well, maybe someday may mga relatives ka, kapatid mo, mag-sundalo rin (You don't need this anymore-- Well, maybe someday if you have relatives or siblings who would want to become soldiers), you might just keep it this time and think of what you should be doing. I'm going to give you one fully furnished, furnished na (already), it’s a house and lot in Zamboanga City," he added.
Duterte likewise said Diaz will be given a Presidential Medal of Merit in "appropriate ceremonies" in Malacañang.
In addition to the P10 million that the law grants on Diaz, the President said he will be giving her another P3 million.
"Maybe one of these days, if you have the time, communicate with us, para maibigay ko sa 'yo yung aking P3 million. Yung 10 million kunin mo siguro sa Treasury 'yan (So I can give you the P3 million. The P10 million, I think you can get that from the Treasury)," he said.
"You’ve been blessed by God. Hindi naman malaki, hindi naman maliit (This is not big nor too small). This would go a long way to help your family," he added.
Let bygones be bygones
President Duterte recognized Diaz's sacrifices in her journey for the gold medal.
"Salamat naman sa pagtiis mo (Thank you for your sacrifices). I hope that the years of toil, the years of disappointments, and the years na hindi maganda ang nangyari (that were not good) in the past, just forget them," he said.
"You already have the gold. Gold is gold. And it would be good for you to just let bygones be bygones and dwell solely on your victory, together with your family and of course with the nation," he added.
Diaz's journey in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was not a walk in the park. In 2019, she had to ask publicly for financial support so she can continue with her training. Shortly, she was included in the alleged oust- Duterte matrix that led her to be pilloried by supporters of the administration.
READ: 'Sorry, not sorry?' Panelo apologizes to Hidilyn; says her pain over matrix was 'misplaced'
Political career?
Meanwhile, the President, noting her newfound fame, said Diaz may consider taking on another role so she can help the country aside from being a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
"Alam mo (You know), the struggle of life is a long, long process. You are already a celebrity, it’s a political stock so, keep note of that," he said.
"One day you’d want also to... baka makatulong ka sa (you may be able to help the) country in some other way other than being a soldier," he added.
Duterte ended his virtual meeting with Diaz by giving her a salute.