Solon urges Duterte to confer PH Legion of Honor to Hidilyn Diaz after Olympics gold

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / FRANCIS T. J. OCHOA

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is urged to confer to Hilidyn Diaz the Philippine Legion of Honor following her historic gold medal win in the Tokyo Olympics.

In filing House Resolution No. 2020, a copy of which was sent to the media on Wednesday, Deputy Speaker Camille Villar said “it is high time” to confer to Diaz the Philippine Legion of Honor for her “heartwarming victory and for uplifting national glory and pride in the world sports stage.”

The Philippine Legion of Honor is the highest honor that the President may grant an individual without Congress’ concurrence.

“In her quest to deliver the country’s first-ever gold medal in the Summer Games, the bemedalled Zamboanga City native, a silver medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, had to endure hardships and even depression that made her think to bow out of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, as well as lack of financial backing, restrictions and hurdles due to the pandemic, emboldened her resolve with the moral support of her kababayans to emerge victorious in Tokyo 2020,” Villar said in a statement.

“The Philippine Legion of Honor, conferred upon a Filipino or foreign citizen in recognition of valuable and meritorious service in relation to military affairs of the Philippines and may be awarded by the Secretary of National Defense by the authority of the President on the declaration of the anniversary of the Philippine independence, is befitting for a young Filipina athlete for demonstrating outstanding courage and determination in the world of sports despite the odds,” she added.

Diaz, in her fourth straight Olympics, delivered the Philippines’ breakthrough gold medal after conquering the women’s 55 kilograms weightlifting competition at the Tokyo Olympics.

Aside from being a weightlifter, Diaz is also an active sergeant of the Philippine Air Force.

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