Statement of PNP Chief Nicolas Torre III on “Fistfight” Challenge of Davao Acting Mayor Baste Duterte
PNP CHIEF – Philippine National Police chief Police General Nicolas Torre III claimed that there is “nothing personal” on his part in accepting the challenge of Davao City acting mayor Baste Duterte.
Currently, Davao City is led by its acting mayor, Baste Duterte, as former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who won the mayoralty race in the 2025 Midterm Elections has yet to take his oath. The former Chief Executive is detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands since March.
Davao acting mayor Baste Duterte was one of those who reacted to appointment of now-PNP chief Nicolas Torre III. According to him, Torre’s appointment is allegedly not merit-based but based on favor. He also recently issued a challenge to the new head of the national police.
Torre, then the chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), played a significant role in the arrest and the transfer of the custody of former Pres. Duterte to the ICC in The Hague. After it, he was promoted and then appointed to be the successor of retired former PNP chief Police Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.
Recently, PNP chief Nicolas Torre accepted the “fistfight” challenge of Davao acting mayor Baste Duterte. He agreed to a “charity boxing match” as he wants the funds raised to be donated to the victims of the typhoon and the flood in the different areas in the Philippines.
In his response to the challenge of the son of former Pres. Duterte, Torre went as far as determining the schedule and the venue of their charity boxing match. According to him, they can have it at the Araneta Coliseum and it would be better if there is a sponsor every match so they could raise a huge amount of funds.
“Para mabilis, this coming Sunday? Sa Araneta? Twelve rounds, pwede. Twelve rounds ng suntukan para maganda at para medyo marami-rami ang ma raise natin, siguro you can find sponsors, per round may sponsor,” the PNP Chief said.
According to Torre, he will be there in Araneta on Sunday for the 9:00 o’clock match with Duterte. He claimed that there is “nothing personal” on his part in accepting the challenge of the acting mayor of Davao City. He also denied picking up the dare of Duterte saying he just sees it as an opportunity to help the typhoon and flood victims.
“Hindi ko naman siya pinapatulan. I just see this as an opportunity para makatulong sa ating mga kababayan kaya nga sigurado maraming sponsors nito. All the proceeds that we will raise, we’ll donate to charity. Ako, I will donate,” Torre expressed.
When asked about the preparation for their charity boxing match, PNP chief Nicolas Torre claimed that their match may only hurt a little and it is fine with him if Davao acting mayor Baste Duterte has prepared for it. He intended to just hit the gym. However, based on a post on social media, Torre has to attend to an activity this morning, thus, his “practice” was not pushed through.
Previously, following his appointment, new PNP chief Nicolas Torre warned the overweight cops to either lose weight or they will be fired.