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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider PWD athlete hopes UniTeam alliance will continue Duterte legacy

PWD athlete hopes UniTeam alliance will continue Duterte legacy

Published Apr 11, 2022 09:47 am

Kenneth Tapia, an player on the men's national wheelchair team “Pilipinas Warriors", has expressed support for the UniTeam presidential-vice presidential tandem of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

A Filipino cager goes for an easy lay-up over his Thai defender in the preliminary round of the 9th ASEAN Para Games Wheelchair Basketball held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, September 19, 2017. (PNA/ Joey O. Razon/ WIKIPEDIA)

In 2009, Tapia sustained a spinal cord injury after he was hit by a stray bullet but continued playing basketball as a person with disability (PWD) athlete. He was eventually scouted by Coach Vernon Perea of the Pilipinas Warriors and recruited to the team.

“Ang unang boto ko talaga ay para kay President Rodrigo Duterte. Since 2016, nag-boom ang sports para sa mga PWDs dahil sinuportahan talaga yun ni President Duterte. Binigyan kami ng opportunity na makapaglaro sa ibang bansa at para maipakita ang aming skills para ipaglaban ang Pilipinas (My first vote was for President Duterte. Since 2016, PWD sports have boomed because of his support. He gave us an opportunity to show our skills and compete for the Philippines),” Tapia said in a statement on Sunday, April 10.

That same day, presidential daughter Mayor Duterte led a meeting with members of the PWD sector in Quezon City.

He then explained his belief that UniTeam candidates Marcos Mayor Duterte would continue the legacy of the Duterte administration.

“Parang naging equal po kami sa mga normal na atleta kaya gusto ko pong ipagpatuloy ng darating nating administrasyon ni Sara at BBM ang nasimulan ng kanyang ama (It’s as if we became equal to normal athletes which is why I want Sara and Marcos to continue what her father started),” Tapia added.

Tapia’s team has earned three bronze medals from representing the country during the 2014, 2015, and 2017 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) ParaGames.

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