Marcos lauds Nesthy Petecio: PH is proud of you

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Isang karangalan na maiwagayway ka sa buong mundo, MAHAL KONG PILIPINAS!!! LALABAN PARA SA BAYAN!! (Photo: @neshpetecio/Instagram)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has extended his congratulations to Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio for bagging the bronze medal in the women’s 57kg of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Petecio concluded her Olympic campaign with a heartbreaking split decision loss at the hands of Poland’s Julia Szeremeta early Thursday in the semifinal round.

Despite the loss, Marcos said the whole country is proud of Petecio’s performance.

“You’ve truly shown the world how Filipinos never back down from a challenge,” Marcos said in a social media post.

“The whole country is proud of you! Taas kamao para sa boxingerong Pilipino (Fist up for Filipino boxers),” he added.

Petecio’s bronze is the fourth medal for the Philippines in the ongoing Summer Games after Carlos Yulo’s two gold medals in men’s artistic gymnastics and Aira Villegas’ bronze in the women’s 50kg in boxing.

Petecio joins an elite group of Filipino athletes with multiple Olympic medals along with Yulo, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, and swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso.

She won the silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Promotion

Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan said Petecio, a PCG Petty Officer Second Class, would be promoted to the next higher rank in recognition of her achievement.

“This is a very inspiring achievement for the youth,” Gavan said, lauding the bemedalled Olympian.

Petecio, along with weightlifter Elreen Ando, was recruited to the PCG in August 2021, or after she won the silver medal in Tokyo. (With reports from Raymond Carl dela Cruz/PNA)