Bill seeks triple promotion for gold-medalist soldiers

Filipino soldiers who win a gold in an international sporting competition may be promoted three ranks higher on top of ample cash rewards under a bill proposed by a lawmaker in the House of Representatives.

On Wednesday, 1Pacman Partylist Rep. Michael Romero filed House Bill No. 4220 or the proposed “Special Recognition for Philippine Athletes with Military Services Act,” seeking to recognize “soldier athletes who face two ‘war fronts’ in bringing honor and glory to the country.”

Unlike ordinary athletes, Romero said, soldier athletes are trained to hone their skills as sports competitors and also undergo rigorous military skills training to prepare them to defend the Philippines from both internal and external threats.

“They believe becoming a soldier athlete brings twice the honor than what just being an athlete does,” said the lawmaker, the estranged son of construction magnate Reghis Romero II and a sportsman himself.

Explaining his bill, Romero said soldier athletes should be rewarded twice over—one through cash incentives already authorized under the law and government sports programs and another by promoting them in rank for their sports achievements.

He cited the case of Airwoman First Class Hidilyn Diaz who won a bronze medal in weightlifting at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Diaz is a member of the Philippine Air Force Special Service.

Under the proposal, a Filipino athlete, who is currently an active member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will be promoted three ranks higher if he or she wins a gold medal in an international sports competition duly recognized by the government.

A silver medal will elevate the soldier-athlete by two ranks while a bronze will promote him or her by one rung.

Romero, who headed the Philippine delegation to the 2012 Olympics, urged the House leadership to include HB No. 4220 in the list of legislative priorities.

He said this could help the country’s chances of getting in the medal column in the 2020 Olympics in Japan and other international sports competitions.