One thing Filipino politicians and government officials lack is dignity. This political and bureaucratic class loves to engage in feuds and then air their dirty laundry for all to see and smell. Exhibit one: the constant filing of cases against political opponents, not in the name of justice, but in order to smear their names.
Exhibit two: the threat of violence. Acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte has been at odds with PNP Chief Torre for quite some time. The tiff started when all of Davao City's PNP Commanders were relieved from duty because crime statistics had been fabricated to make Davao look safe. On top of that issue was the arrest of his father, former President Duterte, which the Duterte family has labelled an illegal kidnapping.
Lashing out in anger, Baste challenged PNP Chief Torre to a fistfight. Now, Torre has agreed, but he has done so under the cover of a charity boxing match to raise funds for flood victims.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1254933 |
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Wednesday challenged Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte to a charity boxing match.
In a press briefing held at Camp Crame, Torre said the proceeds of the match would go to relief efforts for those affected by widespread flooding in Metro Manila and other areas due to the southwest monsoon and recent tropical cyclones.
“This is timely because a lot of people were affected by the typhoon and flooding. Maybe we can use this moment as an opportunity to raise funds in a well charity boxing match,” said Torre.
Duterte earlier challenged Torre to a fistfight.
“He made a challenge for a fistfight and for me, whether he is serious or not, let's just put this to better use if that is what he wants. Let’s make it a boxing match because it is easy to set up,” Torre said when sought for a comment.
Torre proposed holding a 12-round match at 9 a.m. on July 27 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. He said he hopes sponsors can fund each round, with the proceeds going to those affected by the inclement weather.
“I will be there in Araneta. I’ll ask Araneta to set up a boxing ring. Hopefully they will oblige. Siguro you can find sponsors per round may mag sponsor. So let’s place their merchandise before each round. Maybe we can find sponsors. There should be sponsors per round. For 12 rounds, that would be a lot of sponsors and that means we can raise more funds,” said Torre.
If not at the Araneta Coliseum, Torre said he is ready to do it at any gym with a boxing ring.
“Whether he’s serious or not, let’s just put this to better use. If that’s what he wants, that’s easy to grant—let’s just go with boxing because it’s easier to set up,” Torre told reporters when asked to respond to Duterte’s statement.
In an previous media appearance, Duterte cursed Torre and challenged him to a fistfight.
The two have been at odds, with Torre, then chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, leading the arrest of Baste's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Torre, however, was quick to clarify that his decision to accept the younger Duterte’s challenge is meant to raise funds, especially for millions affected by the weather disturbances in the past days.
“I just see this is an opportunity to help our kababayan and maybe there would be sponsors, for the proceeds that we will raise we will donate to charity,” said Torre.
“On my part, I will donate to charity whatever my share, and that would be for those affected by the typhoon and flood,” he added.
Torre said he plans to hit the gym on Thursday for a quick workout.
“He was the one who issued the challenge. He issued the challenge. For my part, I’m simply accepting it,” he said.
Torre said he is open to air the boxing match on social media platforms but he urged those who would watch to donate for storm victims.
This is not the first time that Duterte threatened physical harm on the PNP chief.
When Torre was the regional director of Police Regional Office-Davao, Duterte threatened to slap him for relieving all police commanders of Davao City.
This, after reports that Davao City commanders were misreporting crime incidents allegedly to make it appear that the city is safe.
Everyone knows the Duterte family has no decency, but in this case neither does Torre. Though he makes it appear as if he is turning the violence of Duterte into something positive, he is actually agreeing to the fistfight. Albeit he is attempting to spin a negative into a positive by suggesting a charity boxing event for flood victims. To top it off, Torre says he will donate his share of the fight proceeds to flood victims. That is not how charity events work! If it were a real charitable event neither Torre nor Duterte would receive a single dime. What a joke!
Where will it happen? How much will it cost? Who will get the remaining funds? How will they be distributed to victims? The government already has programs in place to help those affected by flooding. Torre knows Baste isn't going to take the bait because along with having no decency, the Duterte family is deeply craven and cowardly. However, Torre is not taking the high ground. He is stooping to Baste's level and then sinking even lower by pretending this fight would be all about charity and not about giving Baste a whooping for continually smearing his name.
Let's not forget: Duterte issued the challenge and Torre is merely accepting it. How about taking the real high ground and ignoring the bluster from Duterte? Instead he has given in to it under the guise of charity.
These two officials cannot control themselves. Filipinos do not deserve leaders like Torre and Duterte. They are just more evidence of the hell that is the Philippines being run by Filipinos.
Update: All of the above was written four days ago on July 24th, 2025. Since then the "fight" has occurred. Shockingly Torre was declared the winner. Unshockingly Torre was declared the winner because Baste flew off to Singapore and was a no-show. He claimed he had other commitments but he also set a ridiculous condition for the fight, namely all government officials nationwide being subject to a drug test. Over P20 million was raised for charity.
Baste also claims he never challenged Torre to a fistfight.
Duterte also said that he never challenged Torre and blamed media for public attention to his comments on Torre, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group when former President Duterte was arrested last March.
"I did not challenge you. What I really said was that if we were in a fight, I would beat you up. I didn't challenge you, you idiot," he said.
I stand by all my previous comments.
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