MANILA – Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque vowed to help Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco claim the incentives promised to the boxer after winning a silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
“Ipaki-usap natin kay Presidente Rodrigo Duterte na baka mabigyan siya ng pabuya ngayon,” the Palace spokesperson said during his Malacañang virtual presser on Thursday.
“I-check natin if may retroactive effect ‘yung binibigay na P10 million ng gobyerno,” he added. “Napakahirap mangako sa mga bigong pangako ng nakalipas na administrasyon.”
Last week, Velasco told GMA 7’s 24 Oras that he is yet to receive the millions worth of incentives promised to him for his silver medal feat 25 years ago.
The incentives promised to Velasco included P2.5 million cash from Congress, house and lot, scholarship pledged by the Philippine Navy to his two children, and a lifetime allowance of P10,000 from a businessman.
“Hindi ko talaga natanggap lahat kaya ginagawa na lang naming joke ‘yun eh, na pinangakuan ka na, gusto mo tuparin pa. Dapat matuwa ka na kasi pinangakuan ka na,” the Negrense boxer said.
It was not the first time that the Duterte administration has promised to help Velasco get his incentives.
In 2016, the President said he was waiting for a go-signal before taking action on Velasco’s incentives, but the Malacañang did not have an update on the issue since then./PN
