Duterte meets with hero surfer Roger Casugay in Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte met with surfer Roger Casugay, who earned praises for saving his Indonesian rival from drowning during the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Casugay and the rest of the Philippine surfing team paid a courtesy call on Duterte on Tuesday in Malacañang, according to photos released by the Palace to the media on Wednesday.

President Duterte met with surfer Roger Casugay and the rest of the Philippine surfing team in Malacañang on Tuesday (Dec. 10). Casugay has earned praises for rescuing his Indonesian opponent during the 30th SEA Games men’s longboard surfing competition. ????: Palace @gmanews pic.twitter.com/iFt812JEt5

— Virgil Lopez (@virgillopez) December 11, 2019

     FULL COVERAGE:      30th Southeast Asian Games on GMA News Online

Indonesian Arip Nurhidayat was swept from his surfboard and tossed by the rolling waves in the middle of the men’s longboard surfing competition in San Juan, La Union on December 6 when Casugay rescued him.

The 25-year-old, who won hearts on social media with his kind deed, eventually won the gold medal in the men's longboard on Sunday.

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo on Monday expressed his appreciation for Casugay for helping Nurhidayat.

The Senate also commended Casugay for his selfless act. —Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News