OWING to the absence of Davao Mayor Baste Duterte in the much-publicized boxing match set up by Philippine National Police Director Gen. Nicolas Torre for them at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Sunday morning, the PNP chief was declared as winner by default and with the country’s top cop saying he will no longer respond to future challenges to fisticuffs and attend to his many functions.
Citing the kind of preparation it took for him to face the challenge and the reported new challenge issued by the younger Duterte, Torre said: “I don’t think he is worth responding to.. at this point and time, hayaan na natin siya sa kanyang mundo… I don’t think there is still any logic in anything he says… Madami akong ibang trabaho and he is not worth responding to.”
The PNP chief though, accepted the challenge for a hair follicle drug test, “anytime, anywhere…kaming dalawa lang naman ang involved dito.”
“Nakita nyo naman, napakalaki ng pagod at effort na ating inilagay dito. Ang credibility kasi, pag ako niloko mo, shame on you. Pero pag ako nagpaloko ulit, shame on me…Madami akong ibang trabaho and he is not worth responding to,” Torre stressed. Duterte was reported to have flown to Singapore over the weekend.
Said event slated at the coliseum at 9 a.m., was widely attended by members of the media and had everything that is expected of any ordinary boxing events— a ring, a referee, round girls and even undercard fights, among others.
It was learned that the match, staged on the side as a charity event, still managed to raise more than P20 million in cash and relief goods.
“As of the latest report, we collected P340,000 from entrance fees and raised P16 million from donors outside the event… we also have two tons of rice and canned goods amounting to P4.2 million. Thank you for your support.” Torre said.
Manila Police District Public Information Officer Maj. Philipp Ines said they had a deployment in the area and that as per schedule, Torre held an outreach program in Adriatico where the stadium is located, along with Baseco, after the match that did not push through.
