THE rift between Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III has gone beyond control as Davao City acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte dared the man behind his father’s arrest to a fistfight.
In a vlog uploaded on Youtube on Sunday, Duterte particularly mentioned Torre and challenged him for a fistfight.
Three days later, Torre responded and accepted the young Duterte’s dare, but with a twist. The country’s top cop wanted a charity boxing match with proceeds going to relief efforts for those affected by widespread flooding in Metro Manila and other areas.
“You know tamang tama dahil marami ang nasalanta ngayon ng bagyo at baha. Maybe we can use this moment as an opportunity to raise funds in a well charity boxing match,” said Torre.
“Naghamon siya ng suntukan… sa atin naman whether he is serious or not let’s put just put this on a better use kung yan ang gusto niya, madaling pagbigyan yan boxing na lang para madali isetup at gawin,” Torre said during a press briefing at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.
Torre proposed holding a 12-round match at 9 a.m. this Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
To raise funds, the police general called on “sponsors” to fund each round, with the proceeds going to those affected by the inclement weather.
“I will be there in Araneta. I’ll ask Araneta to set up a boxing ring. Hopefully they will oblige. Siguro you can find sponsors per round may mag sponsor. So let’s place their merchandise before each round. So 12 rounds para medyo marami-rami ang sponsors at marami tayong mairaise na pondo,” he added.
In the event that Araneta Coliseum isn’t available, Torre hinted expressed willingness to slug it out with the acting Davao City mayor in any gym with a boxing ring.
In an earlier media appearance, Duterte cursed Torre and challenged him to a fistfight. The two have been at odds, with Torre leading the arrest of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Matapang ka lang naman, you have the position eh. Pero kung suntukan tayo, alam ko kaya kita kung ganon lang. You are a coward. You are nothing without your position,” an obviously pissed off Duterte said.
Torre, however, was quick to clarify that his decision to accept Baste’s challenge is meant to raise funds, especially for millions affected by the weather disturbances in the past days.
“I just see this is an opportunity to help our kababayan and maybe there would be sponsors, for the proceeds that we will raise we will donate to charity,” Torre explained.
“On my part, I will donate to charity whatever my share, and that would be for those affected by the typhoon and flood,” he assured.
Torre intends to hit the gym on Thursday (July 24) for a quick workout.
“He was the one who issued the challenge. Sa atin naman, tinatanggap lang naman,” said the PNP chief, even as he expressed hope that such a match would be aired (via live stream) on the condition that netizen viewers would donate for the typhoon victims.
Previously, Duterte threatened to slap Torre who was then the regional director of Davao region.