Filipina boxing sensation Nesthy Petecio, who recently brought home glory when she won an Olympic Silver Medal, was recruited by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Petecio and weightlifter Elreen Ando took their oath on Thursday, Aug. 19 at the PCG National Headquarters, Port Area, Manila in a ceremony presided by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.
Petecio was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) in honor of her silver medal win in the women’s featherweight (54-57kg) division of the Tokyo Olympics last Aug. 3
She became the third boxer to win an Olympic silver medal after Anthony Villanueva (men’s feather) at the 1964 Tokyo Games and Onyok Velasco (men’s light fly) at the 1996 Atlanta.
READ MORE: Nesthy Petecio yields to Japanese foe, settles for boxing silver
Meanwhile, Ando was promoted to Apprentice Seawoman, who settled for seventh place in the women’s 64-kg weightlifting division of the Tokyo Olympics on July 27.
READ MORE: Weightlifter Ando lands in seventh place
Petecio and Ando will join the Coast Guard Special Service Office (CGSSO) – one of the PCG units at the National Headquarters.
During his speech, Tugade expressed his gratitude to Petecio and Ando who applied to become part of the Coast Guard even before they competed at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
“Nesthy and Elreen, we welcome you in the ring of public service, especially in taking care of the safety and security of the Republic," Secretary Tugade said.
During the ceremony, PCG Vice Admiral Artemio Abu, commander Coast Guard Maritime Safety Service Command at Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan, and PCG Spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo were also recognized.
PCG Commandant Admiral George Ursabia was also present during the ceremony to award the outstanding Coast Guard officers.