Rodrigo Duterte has announced a cash reward for Hidilyn Diaz after she won the gold medal for Philippines at the Tokyo Olympics
The Tokyo Olympics have been a historic occasion for Philippines. The country’s insatiable appetite for a gold medal at the games was finally quenched by Hidilyn Diaz who ended up winning the first ever gold for the country.
Hidilyn Diaz Wins Gold Medal In Weightlifting For Philippines At The Tokyo Olympics
Snagging the top prize in heir weightlifting category, Diaz finally managed to do what no one has done in her country’s history. She has since been lauded by her country’s citizens with her receiving a rapturous welcome as she returned to her country from Tokyo.
Diaz was welcomed at the Manila airport by Philippine Air Force personnel who lauded her triumph at the games. Diaz is a part of her country’s air force and met President Rodrigo Duterte over a Zoom call wearing her air force uniform.
While the meeting between the two was called for Duterte to congratulate Diaz and herald her triumph, it was clear that everything was not good between the two. The Philippine government lead by Duterte had two years back accused Diaz of being amongst a group of people threatening to oust Duterte from his role.
The government had gone onto name Diaz in a chart of people plotting to overthrow the president. While the claims were not substantiated by the government at the time, Salvador Panelo who is the president’s chief legal counsel had previously this week gone onto clear the air regarding the situation.
President Rodrigo Duterte Announces Prize Money For Hidilyn Diaz
Panelo had said that Hidilyn Diaz was not a part of the plot to get rid of the president but was only termed as a suspect owing to one of the members of the group following her on social media platform.
In a bid to mend ties with Diaz and tie up lose ends, Duterte offered a prize of three million pesos which amounts to $60,000 from his own pocket. Interacting with Diaz after her victory, Duterte also urged her to forget the past.
“You already have the gold and it would be good for you to let bygones be bygones,” Duterte told 30 year old Diaz.
The two exchanged salutes during the interaction as well.