TORRE VS. DUTERTE?
PNP chief accepts acting Davao mayor's 'suntukan' dare, wants 12-round charity boxing match in Araneta
Days after Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barros, is there another boxing match in the offing?
Davao City's acting mayor Baste Duterte on July 20 launched verbal attacks against PNP chief Nicholas Torre, ending with a declaration that the former can face the latter in a "suntukan." Three days later, Torre accepted his challenge, but with specific requests: Instead of a typical fisticuff in the streets, he said he wants an official boxing match in the ring—and for charity purposes at that.
Speaking to the media, including The Philippine STAR, Torre was asked about his reaction to Duterte's challenge.
Torre smirked before responding, "Pero you know? Tamang-tama, dahil marami ang nasalanta ngayon ng bagyo at baha. Maybe we can use this moment, this opportunity to raise funds in a charity boxing match."
Torre proposed holding it on July 27, Sunday, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, noting that it should be a 12-round match.
"Para maganda at para marami ang maraise natin (na pera)," he added, even as he urged finding sponsors who can advertise their merchandise at the start of each round.
In another portion of the interview captured by Radyo Pilipinas, Torre noted that he doesn't mind getting physically hurt.
"Kung magkasakitan, kaunti lang 'yan," he said. "Lakasan lang ng loob 'yan. Pareho naman siguro kaming walang practice. O baka kung nagpractice siya, okay lang din."
In a follow-up interview with the press, Torre said that whether Duterte is "serious or not," their would-be brawl must be put "to a better use."
"Kung 'yan ang gusto niya, madaling pagbigyan 'yan," he said, adding that he will face Duterte at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
"I'll ask Araneta to set up a boxing ring. Hopefully, they will oblige," he said. "Kung wala naman, e 'di maghanap tayo ng kung saang gym na gusto [ni Duterte]."
Torre pointed out that he isn't calling it a bluff, but rather seeing it as an "opportunity" to help those affected by the rain and flooding caused by the habagat.
"Sigurado akong maraming mag-iisponsor nito," he added.
Duterte has yet to respond to Torre accepting his challenge.
What prompted the 'suntukan' dare
On the season premiere of Duterte's talk show called "Basta Dabawenyo," which was posted on YouTube on July 20, he was asked how he could sustain peace and order in his bailiwick with Torre in charge.
"Ewan ko, si Torre naman ang nagsabi na may three-minute response siya. It's his responsibility na walang mangyayaring krimen dito sa Davao," he said, referring to Torre's vow of ensuring three-minute police emergency response times in 911 calls.
Duterte, however, criticized Torre for telling local police how to run things in the city, noting he was born and raised there.
"I know this place. I know the people here. I know how people behave," he said. "Pero 'pag itong nilagay na city director ni Torre, hindi makikinig sa akin, hindi magcocooperate, it's up to them."
Duterte, who was already starting to laugh, claimed that what would happen after the three-minute call is "harassment."
"Do not worry, Mr. Torre. Sanay na ako sa iyo," he said, before accusing the police chief of "kidnapping" his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. (The elder Duterte has been detained at the International Criminal Court since March 12 for alleged crimes against humanity, with Torre leading his arrest the previous day at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.)
Duterte also claimed that Torre has two years to prepare for his supposed candidacy, as well as having a supposed criminal case.
"Gusto mo ako harasin, harasin mo lang ako. Kasi matapang ka lang naman kasi you have the position. Pero kung suntukan tayo, kaya kita. Ganoon lang," he said. "But you're a coward. You are nothing without your position, sa totoo lang."
Duterte and Torre previously exchanged verbal punches.
According to a STAR report last June, Duterte claimed that Torre was appointed as PNP chief because he's the "attack dog" of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
He also claimed that Torre's promotion led to the bypassing of more senior officials, jumping from two-star to four-star general.
Torre, asked about his reaction, said he respects Duterte's opinion—but told the media to "rewind" to the term of Rodrigo and his PNP chief.
"What was the rank of the first chief PNP and what was my rank before I became chief PNP?" he said, without mentioning anybody. "It goes back to him. The first PNP chief under his father was a one-star general who automatically became a four-star. Did he question that?” (Torre was referring to Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, who was a one-star general when he became the top cop in 2016.)
