THE charity boxing match between Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III and acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has accumulated over P16 million cash donations.
In an interview at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, July 27, 2025, Torre said there were also P4.2 million worth of in-kind donations, which include sacks of rice, canned goods, and other basic commodities.
He said P340,000 were generated from the tickets sold at the venue.
Torre said the Philippine National Police (PNP) will turn over the donations to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as well as the Philippine Red Cross for distribution to the families affected by the recent calamities that struck the country.
In one of the episodes of his podcast, Duterte challenged Torre to a fistfight as he expressed displeasure to the top cop who led the arrest of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and his transfer to The Hague, Netherlands where he was turned over to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC is investigating the alleged crime against humanity in the country during the administration of the Duterte patriarch.
Torre accepted the challenge in the form of boxing match for the benefit of the victims of the calamities.
In response, the younger Duterte said he would agree to a fistfight with Torre only if he can convince President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to order all elected officials to undergo a hair follicle drug test.
The PNP organized the event but the younger Duterte was a no show.
Baste Duterte reportedly left the country for Singapore on Friday, July 25.
Torre was declared winner by default.
Among those who arrived to watch the supposed match were Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, National Police Commission (Napolcom) vice chariman and executive officer Raphael Calinisan, and some top officials of the PNP.
There were four undercard fights; all of the boxers came from the PNP boxing team, before the main event.
On Saturday, July 26, Baste Duterte said he is not available on Sunday as he has “other things to do.
“So, I think, it’s better for you because you still have time to practice. Because your punching is a bit… when you jab, you immediately lower your hand. You need to defend your face. When you jab, you immediately return to your face. So, just a little advice, practice,” he added.
Baste Duterte also took a swipe at Torre for using the victims of the weather disturbances.
“If you really just want a fight, why do you need charity? Why do you need the, do you need to use what’s happening right now with the floods in Metro Manila?” he said.
“If you want, I’ll come to you, no cameras. Let’s fight, no gloves. Why do you need anything? Are you serious about showbiz? So if you really want it, it’s just the two of (us). Either I’ll come to you, just the two of us, just bring your bodyguard with you so that if something happens to you, at least someone will be there to pick you through the hospital,” he added.
Upon his arrival at the venue on Sunday, Torre responded to Baste’s demand for a private boxing match.
(No camera? Confidential? You seem very used to doing things confidentially, huh? What's this -- going for the "confidential" angle? Better not, because that might not be justifiable under current regulations. I might even get investigated, and I’d have to go into hiding if I make that confidential.)
Torre said they pushed through with the event for the sake of the victims who need immediate assistance following the onslaught of typhoons and habagat.
He said he will no longer entertain should Baste issue another challenge.
“Wala nga dahil nasabi na natin ang lahat eh. So this is the only one and only chance na palagay ko ay papansinin pa natin siya. After that, wala na siya. Marami akong ibang trabaho and he is really not worth responding to,” said Torre.
(There’s nothing more because we’ve already said everything. So this is the one and only chance, I think, that we’ll even bother to acknowledge him. After this, he’s done. I have a lot of other work to do, and he’s really not worth responding to.)
“Napakarami naman kundisyon. Hindi ganun kapag ikaw ang nag-challenge. Kahit na ano pa man, kahit bata nga eh alam yan. Kapag nag-challenge ka, dapat panindigan mo na ang challenge mo. Kapag hindi mo kayang panindigan tigil na lang,” he added.
(There are just too many conditions. That’s not how it works when you’re the one who issued the challenge. Anyone would know that -- even kids. When you throw a challenge, you should stand by it. If you can’t, then just stop.) (TPM/SunStar Philippines)