Torre vs. Baste: No punches thrown, yet lives will be lifted

Davao City (July 27) – PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III enters the ring alone, turning a missed match with Baste Duterte into ₱20 million worth of aid for storm-hit Filipinos. ‘Boxing for a Cause’ proves that courage isn’t always about combat, it’s about compassion.

The much-anticipated boxing match between General Torre III and Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte turned into a one-man show ,   but it delivered a knockout blow for charity.

The bout that never was, originally slated as a grudge match, became a “Boxing for a Cause” event in Manila that raised ₱20 million in cash donations, along with truckloads of canned goods and rice for disaster relief. Torre entered the ring alone after Duterte was a no-show, yet the event garnered massive support to aid Filipinos battered by recent tropical storms and monsoon flooding.

Rivalry Sparks a Charity Challenge

The tension between the two officials began earlier this week when Vice Mayor Duterte,   son of former President Rodrigo Duterte,  challenged Gen. Torre to a fistfight during an episode of his podcast. In that broadcast, Duterte boasted that he could defeat the PNP chief in a brawl, taking offense at Torre’s comments and reformist stance that some saw as critical of the Dutertes’ strongman approach to policing.

Rather than engage in a war of words, Torre responded with an unconventional proposal: turn the feud into a fund-raiser. He publicly accepted the challenge “if it’s for a purpose”, suggesting a charity boxing match where “every punch thrown helps a life rebuilt,” according to a statement released Friday.

Torre framed the idea as a way to channel personal conflict into public good,  pledging that proceeds would support victims of violence, children orphaned by slain police officers, and rehabilitation programs for former drug dependents. “This isn’t about pride. It’s about principle,” the PNP chief said, emphasizing civility over rage. “Let’s show the public there are better ways to confront tension – through transparency, charity, and discipline.” His challenge-turned-invitation drew both skepticism and intrigue nationwide, setting the stage for an unusual showdown.

Solo Show in Manila Raises Millions for Relief

PNP personnel set up a boxing ring at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Sunday, July 27, for the “Boxing for a Cause” event – which went on despite one contender’s absence.

Torre was the lone man in the ring after Vice Mayor “Baste” Duterte failed to show up, yet the charity exhibition managed to draw a sizable crowd and generate over ₱16 million in donations for storm victims. Spectators eager to support the cause still filled the venue, with ticket sales alone contributing about ₱350,000. On top of gate earnings, Torre said additional donations from private sponsors brought the cash tally to ₱20 million, along with in-kind donations like canned food and two tons of rice for affected communities.

Organizers coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Red Cross to ensure all proceeds would be converted into relief goods for those in need. In fact, the PNP confirmed that “Laban Para sa Nasalanta” – as the charity event was dubbed – will channel aid to Filipinos hit by recent cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, as well as severe Habagat flooding in Luzon.

Torre, donning boxing gloves in lieu of his uniform, gave the crowd a brief exhibition bout and pledged that police officers would personally help distribute the relief packs in hard-hit areas. The urgency of helping disaster victims, he said, was the main reason the event pushed through despite doubts about Duterte’s attendance.

By the end of the day, the PNP chief was declared winner by default in a fight with no opponent – but in the eyes of supporters, he had won something greater.

Public Reaction and Political Undertones

The public’s response to Torre’s gambit was swift and passionate. Many netizens praised the charity match as a ‘refreshing’ approach to conflict resolution, contrasting it with the usual fiery rhetoric in Philippine politics. On social media, commenters noted that even without throwing a single punch, Torre had “already won” by calling Duterte’s bluff and turning the spectacle into aid for typhoon victims.

Others saw the PNP chief’s dignified stance as a subtle rebuke to political bravado,  a message that leadership should be measured in accountability and public service, not machismo.

“He transformed a divisive feud into a campaign of awareness,” one analyst observed, pointing out how Torre highlighted civility, transparency, and the human cost of violence through the event. Within the police ranks, insiders lauded their chief for upholding discipline over pride and redirecting a personal grudge into an opportunity to help communities in distress. Meanwhile, supporters of the Duterte camp offered a different take.

In a video statement prior to the event, Vice Mayor Duterte explained his absence and downplayed the supposed challenge, insisting “I didn’t challenge you, but if we do fight, I will beat you,” and suggesting he was open to rescheduling on another date.

 Duterte was reported to have flown to Singapore on Friday, two days before the bout, prompting some to quip that it was a literal “fight-or-flight” response. His allies argued that any future match should be done by the book, Davao City Congressman Paolo Duterte even insisted that legal waivers be signed to absolve both parties of liability if the fight ever takes place.

Despite the no-show, the younger Duterte’s supporters claimed moral victory in avoiding an unorthodox confrontation, while critics accused him of backing down from his own dare.

Gloves in Baste’s Court

As of press time, no formal acceptance of Torre’s charity challenge has come from Vice Mayor Duterte. Observers say that if the match eventually happens, it would be a historic first: a literal and symbolic bout between the nation’s top cop and a scion of its most prominent political dynasty. Such a fight,  born out of online taunts and answered with altruism, could set the tone for the evolving relationship between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration and the Dutertes’ influence in Philippine politics.

For now, Gen. Nicolas Torre III’s bold move has flipped a personal rivalry into a public cause, reaping both goodwill and much-needed funds for victims of tragedy. The ball or rather, the gloves are now in Baste’s court.