PNP CHIEF Gen. Nicolas Torre III yesterday won by default after acting Davao City mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte failed to show up for their anticipated boxing fight at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Torre, wearing a pair of red shorts and a shirt, was declared winner by ring officials after a 10-second countdown, drawing cheers from thousands of people, including Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, who went to see the fight.
After the event that involved undercard fights, Torre said they earned P16 million in cash donation and P300,500 in ticket sales which he said will go to the victims of the recent tropical cyclones and flooding.
Torre said they also received P4.2 million worth of goods, including rice and canned products, which will be distributed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Red Cross, and the Quezon City Red Cross to the calamity victims.
“What is clear is we were able to earn around P20 million. This P20 million (in cash and goods) will go directly to the DSWD, Quezon City Red Cross and National Red Cross (for distribution to the calamity victims),” he said.
Duterte, a known critic of Torre, challenged the PNP chief to a fight last week.
Torre accepted the challenge, but said this should be turned into a charity event to raise funds for the calamity victims. He said the proceeds of the boxing match should go to the victims of the tropical cyclones Crising, Dante and Emong and the southwest monsoons that has affected more than five million people across the country.
Torre set the date of the fight yesterday. It was initially set to happen at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, but was moved to the Rizal Memorial Coliseum because the former was unavailable.
After Torre accepted the challenge, Duterte set a condition before the fight – that Torre should ask President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to require all government officials to undergo a hair follicle drug test.
Duterte flew to Singapore last Friday, saying he was not available for the Sunday fight because he has “other things to do.”
He proposed that the fight be held instead on Tuesday, Wednesday or any other day.
Asked if he would accept a similar challenge from Duterte, Torre said: “I don’t think he is worth responding to at this point in time. Let us leave him in his own world.”
Told that Duterte wanted the fight to be held on another date, the PNP chief said that “I don’t think there is still logic in anything he is saying,” adding that the acting mayor’s credibility has eroded.
“This is like the phrase ‘Fool me once, it’s on you. Fool me twice, it’s on me’,” he said.
Pressed if this was the first and last boxing challenge he will accept from Duterte, Torre said: “I think so, yes. I have a job to do and he is really not worth responding to.”
“Even a child would understand. If you made a challenge, you should stand by your challenge. If you cannot do it, just stop,” he added.
DRUG TEST
On Duterte’s condition for a hair follicle drug test for all elected government officials, Torre said the fight was supposed to be between him and Duterte only.
“If it’s hair follicle for both of us, anytime, anywhere, we can do the hair follicle test,” said Torre.
At the House, Reps. Jefferey Khonghun and Joel Chua of Manila dared Duterte to start implementing mandatory hair follicle drug testing in his own backyard in Davao City.
The two administration lawmakers reminded the acting city mayor that 37 Davao city hall employees from the Public Safety and Security Office tested positive for illegal drugs use last year.
“If Mayor Baste is really serious in fighting illegal drugs, he should start in Davao. Under his leadership, 37 were caught using illegal drugs. Instead of challenging others, he should start in his own backyard,” said Khonghun in Filipino, stressing that the fight against illegal drugs “should not be treated as a gimmick.”
“The fight against illegal drugs is not a show for a podcast. It’s also not about showing off or boxing. People’s lives are at stake here,” he said, adding: “You made Davao a mode in the (Duterte administration’s) war on drugs when in your own backyard, there are employees who were found to be using illegal drugs. Where did your claim of victory go?”
Chua, for his part said: “You want to talk about accountability? Then lead by example. Drug testing should begin in Davao City, and the results should be made public. That includes the mayor himself.” – With Wendell Vigilia
