Palace claims Duterte admin invested heavily on athletes resulting in Olympic success

Malacañang on Monday claimed the Duterte administration’s big investment on Filipino athletes resulted in the Philippines’ best Olympic finish since participating in the quadrennial meet in 1924.

This was despite athletes' revelations that they sought additional financial support ahead of Tokyo Olympics 2020. 

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement even if Tokyo Olympians Hidilyn Diaz and Eumir Marcial, who won an Olympic gold and silver medal in weightlifting and boxing middleweight division, respectively, lamented the lack of funding support for their Olympic preparation in May 2019 and in May this year. 

“Hindi coincidence na we had the best ever performance in the Olympics, including our first gold medal ever, under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte. Figures will bear me out, talaga naman pong nagtanim at nag-invest ang Pangulo sa ating mga atleta,” Roque said without citing figures during a Palace briefing. 

(It is not a coincidence that we had the best ever performance in the Olympics, including our first gold medal ever, under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte. Figures will bear me out that our President really invested in our athletes.)

“Nakita natin ang prutas ng investment na ‘yan,” Roque added. 

(We saw the fruits of that investment.)

The Philippines’ final Olympic medal haul stood at one gold, two silvers and one bronze, making it the best performing country in Southeast Asia and finishing 50th out of 86 countries.

Weightlifter Diaz bagged the Philippines’ first Olympic medal in the 55-kilogram category. Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam followed Diaz’s winning run by bagging the silver in the women's featherweight and men's flyweight division, respectively. 

Boxer Marcial, on the other hand, settled for bronze in the men's middleweight division. 

Sponsorship sought

Back in May 2019, Diaz said she was really having a tough time in funding her Olympic training and that she wants to seek the help of the private sector, even if such move could be embarrassing. 

"[Is it] okay to ask sponsorship sa mga private companies towards Tokyo 2020?" Diaz wrote in her Instagram story. "Hirap na hirap na ako. I need financial support."

([Is it] okay to ask for sponsorship from private companies towards Tokyo 2020? I am having a hard time. I need financial support.)

"Nahihiya kasi ako pero try ko kapalan ang mukha ko para sa minimithi kong pangarap para sa atin bansa na maiuwi ang Gold Medal sa Olympics," Diaz wrote.

(I am embarrassed but I will try to be thick-skinned to attain my dream for our country to have a gold medal at the Olympics.)

Marcial, on the other hand, expressed frustration just last May that the funds for his Olympic training was not enough. 

"Since last year when I was in the United States and now I'm in Zamboanga City, do you think a monthly allowance of P43,000 is enough for my preparation for the Olympics?" Marcial said in Filipino.

"Do you think I can rely on P43,000 for plane tickets, accommodation, food, coaching staff, masseur, supplements, etc. Those that I mentioned were provided by private sponsors and of course my own money," he added.

Also in March this year, Tokyo 2020 Olympic boxer Irish Magno raised concerns over delayed release of their allowance, but she later deleted her Facebook post over unclear reasons. 

Marcial backed up Magno’s claims. 

"Kapag nagsalita kami magiging masama ang labas. Nag-delete ng post si Irish Magno dahil pina-delete. Ngayon magiging masama ako dahil nagsalita ako at hindi ako nag-reach out," he wrote on Facebook.

(When we speak out, we would look bad. Irish Magno deleted her post because she was asked to delete it. Now I will look bad because I have spoken out and I have not reached out.)

"Nakaka-low morale minsan dahil kami ginagawa namin lahat para makuha ang gintong medalya pero kulang ang suporta na natatanggap namin," he said.

(Our morale is low at times because we do our best to get that gold medal but the support we receive is not enough.)

Last month, the Palace admitted that national team athletes are not getting enough amount of financial support.

"Kulang po talaga, parang minimum wage nga lang po ang allowance ng ating mga atleta. Titignan natin kung paano mababago ito," Roque said.

(It is really not enough, it is as if it is on the level of minimum wage for our athletes and we will look for ways how can we change this.)

"Titignan natin paano maitataas ang nakukuha nilang allowance at iba pang benepisyo as members of national team. Kung napakaliit at kulang ay nanalo pa rin, mas marami ng mananalo ng ginto kung maibibigay natin ang sapat na benepisyo," he added.

(We will look into increasing the allowance of our national team athletes. They were able to win despite limited funding. We will have more gold medalists if we will be able to provide them enough support.) —KG, GMA News