Despite Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s absence, the charity boxing match against PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III pushed through on Sunday.
It raised nearly ₱16.3 million in cash donations for disaster relief. Torre, declared the winner by default, emphasized the urgency of distributing the aid—composed of cash, rice, and canned goods—to habagat-affected communities.
The bout, originally spurred by Duterte’s online challenge, was later transformed into a fundraising initiative supported by ticket sales, in-kind donations, and pledges.
Torre criticized Duterte’s no-show and erratic statements, saying the mayor had lost credibility.
While acknowledging Torre’s serious response, Senator Panfilo Lacson described the event as unnecessary and warned against its potential misuse of police manpower.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 29, 2025
