Filipino boxing medalist Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, Onyok Velasco and Eumir Marcial at Malacañang. PSC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Far removed from his silver medal triumph at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco finally got his due.
The former national boxer joined the country’s Tokyo 2020 medalists, led by gold medal winner Hidilyn Diaz, on Monday at Malacañang Palace where they were handed their respective incentives.
Velasco received P500,000 from the Office of the President for his Olympic feat. He was also bestowed with the Order of Lapu-Lapu.
The rewards Velaso got were as compensation for the ‘false promises’ committed to him following his podium finish in Atlanta.
The unfulfilled pledges also added insult to injury with Velasco believed to have been robbed of the gold medal in the light flyweight final against Bulgaria’s Daniel Petrov.