Torre declared winner as Duterte skips 'Boxing for a Cause' event
Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III was declared the winner by default of the "Boxing for a Cause" match against Davao City acting Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, who was a no-show.
The event, which Torre said aimed to generate funds for communities severely impacted by typhoons and the southwest monsoon, proceeded at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on July 27 despite Duterte's absence.
Torre was shown on video warming up for the bout as undercard matches took place in the ring.
The ring announcer counted down from 10 to wait for Duterte after Torre made his entrance. The PNP chief's hand was raised afterward.
While he didn't get to fight Duterte, Torre said that the event raised over P300,000 in ticket sales and P16 million in donations. Proceeds will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development to support those affected by the inclement weather.
'I am not afraid'
Days before the match, Duterte was photographed aboard a plane bound for Singapore. In a Facebook video, he explained that he was unable to attend the Sunday match due to a pre-scheduled family day with loved ones and staff in Singapore.
"I cannot be there on Sunday. I have other things to do," he said in a Facebook video, suggesting the fight to take place between Tuesday to Friday next week.
In the video, Duterte said that he didn't dare Torre into a fistfight. "'Di naman kita hinamon. Sinabi ko talaga, 'pag nagsuntukan tayo, mabubugbog kita. T****a."
He also said that he is intentionally avoiding the boxing match with Torre.
"I am not afraid of Torre. It is just that he is already old and could be as old as my grandfather, if ever."
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."
In response, Torre cheekily accepted the dare, but set conditions that it shouldn't be a typical fisticuff in the streets but a full-blown 12-round boxing match in the ring for a charity cause.
Duterte, in turn, gave his own conditions for the match: for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to order all elected officials to undergo a hair follicle drug test.
