Baste Duterte vs. PNP Chief Torre boxing match is on, but...

Acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte (left) and Philippine National Police Chief General Nicholas Torre. ARCHIVE

The much-talked-about charity boxing match between acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicholas Torre III is confirmed for Sunday (July 27). The event will be held at the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila, where a boxing ring is already in place, according to Torre. “Whether he shows up or not, some sponsors have already committed to donating aid to our countrymen affected by the typhoon and floods,” Torre said in Filipino during a boxing training session on July 24. “If he doesn’t show up, we’ll just distribute aid.” But Duterte has no plans of backing down—if Torre can meet a specific demand. In his “Basta Dabawenyo” podcast aired the same day, Baste issued one condition: Torre must convince President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to publicly require all elected officials to undergo a hair follicle drug test. “Please ask your boss, the president, to state publicly that all elected officials should undergo a hair follicle drug test,” Duterte said in a mix of English and Filipino. And then came the zinger: “Wag kang mag-alala, Torre. Matagal ko na talagang gustong makabugbog ng unggoy (Don’t worry, Torre. I’ve long wanted to beat up a monkey).” Duterte has accused Torre of abusing his position, citing his role in the March 2025 arrest of Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. He also questioned Torre’s rapid promotion to PNP chief. The boxing match—while for charity—has now become a symbolic showdown between two clashing public figures, with both political and personal stakes inside the ring. CAM/Expat Media