Iginawad kina gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting – women’s 55-kg), silver medalists Nesthy Petecio (boxing – women’s featherweight) at Carlo Paalam (boxing – men’s flyweight); gayundin kay bronze medal winner Eumir Marcial (boxing – men’s middleweight) ang Senate Medal of Excellence.
Kasabay nito, kinilala din si Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino (8th District, Cavite) na dahil sa kanyang pamumuno ay nasungkit ng Pilipinas ang unang Olympic gold medal sa pamamagitan ni Diaz.
Isinulong naman ni Sen. Francis Tolentino kasama sina Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri at Sen. Sonny Angara ang Senate Resolution 781 para sa pagbibigay ng Senate Medal of Excellence.
Ayon kay Tolentino ang medalya ay maikukumpara sa Congressional Gold Medal na ibinibigay naman ng US Congress bilang pagkilala sa katangi-tanging nagawa o kontribusyon ng kanilang mamamayan o institusyon.
“Recipients of the five international awards, namely the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, the A.M. Turing Award, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, or an Olympic medal are automatically qualified to receive the Senate Medal of Excellence,” sabi pa ni Tolentino.