Former national team boxer Onyok Velasco joined Tokyo Olympic medalists Monday night in paying a courtesy call to President Duterte at the Malacañang.
Malacañang also recognized Velasco for his efforts with the national team after winning the 1996 Atlanta Olympics silver medal.
Apart from the recognition, Velasco was also awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu, Rank of Kamagi and P500,000 cash incentive from the Office of the President.
“It is also fitting to recognize the achievement of our 1996 Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco,” President Duterte said in his speech.
Velasco joined weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who won the country’s first Olympic gold medal, silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, bronze winner Eumir Marcial, and fellow Tokyo Olympians Elreen Ando and Jayson Valdez in the ceremony also attended by Philippine Olympic Committee President Bambol Tolentino, Philippine Sports commission chairman Butch Ramirez, and Chair of Senate Committee on Sports Bong Go, among others.
Recognition and incentives were also given to the Tokyo Olympians particularly Diaz, who received a total of P18 million cash bonus, the Presidential Order of Merit and Certificate of turnover for a housing unit.
Petecio and Paalam also received a total of P7 million each and a housing unit, while Marcial accepted P3 million and a housing unit.
Petecio, Paalam and Marcial were also awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu, Rank of Kamagi like Velasco.
Tokyo Olympians non-medalists were also awarded with P200,000.
As incentives poured on Tokyo Olympic medalists, Velasco revealed he hasn’t received some of the pledges promised to him when he won the Olympic silver in 1996.
With this revelation, some private companies reached out to Velasco and awarded him with cash bonuses and a roasted chicken store.