PACQUIAO VOWS PROTECTING DIAZ
Gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz will have a major backer in Manny Pacquiao in the unfortunate event that she fails to receive what she has been promised to get following her breakthrough win in the Tokyo Olympics.
“I will help her so she gets what these people have promised to give her,” Pacquiao said from Los Angeles where he has been training for the 21 August two-belt welterweight war with Errol Spence.
Diaz put an end to the country’s almost-a-century-long quest for a gold medal by winning the 55 kg event via an Olympic record.
Under the law, Diaz is mandated to receive P10 million.
Not to be outdone, leading tycoons Ramon S. Ang and Manny V. Pangilinan likewise pledged P10 million each.
Also making their presence felt were deputy House Speaker Mikee Romero, who earlier dangled P3 million for every gold won.
Megaworld likewise announced the day after Diaz’s landmark win that it is giving the 30-year-old Zamboanga native a unit at Eastwood City valued at P14 million.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino, also a Tagaytay congressman, also promised a house and lot in the popular tourist destination.
Philippine Airlines and the Romero-owned Air Asia also decided to award Diaz with an abundance of free flights for her feat.
Of course, Pacquiao is not going to be left behind.
I will help her so she gets what these people have promised to give her.
Asked how much he is giving Diaz, the eight-division boxing champ said he would also chip in.
“Surprise,” Pacquiao said.
When Diaz brought home a silver from the 2016 Rio Olympics, Pacquiao gave her an undisclosed amount.
Pacquiao’s decision to get involved with Diaz stands on solid ground.
Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics silver medalist, didn’t receive everything that was promised to him.
“My brother still has a big amount to be collected from certain people,” Roel told Daily Tribune.
“The problem is that there was no written agreement, just verbal. But these were reported in the newspapers during that time.”
Roel, bronze medalist in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, said he is not at all surprised why Pacquiao is taking the lead for Diaz.
“Because there were lots of promises that were broken,” he added.
Just like Onyok, Roel, too, got the short end of the stick during his time.
While he got what was due him from the government, there were still a few individuals Roel did not name who suddenly turned deaf and blind.
“I just decided not to go after them. Besides, I was able to save a little.”
With Pacquiao ready to lace up for Diaz, she is unlikely to suffer the same fate as the Velascos.