In a surprise move just days before a much-hyped charity boxing match, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte flew to Singapore early Friday morning, raising questions about whether the bout with Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III will still push through.
The National Bureau of Investigation confirmed Duterte’s departure, citing travel records showing he boarded a Scoot Airlines flight bound for Singapore. The trip comes at a critical moment, as preparations for the Sunday boxing match at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum are already underway.
The planned fight, which gained public attention after Duterte issued a bold challenge to Torre through a vlog, has taken on a life of its own. Duterte had publicly demanded that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. require hair-follicle drug testing for all government officials—making that a condition for the fight to happen. While Torre accepted the challenge and framed it as a charity event, Duterte’s own words hinted at more personal motivations.
“Don’t worry, Torre,” Duterte said in Filipino during his video message, “I’ve long wanted to beat up a monkey.” The remark, seen by many as racially charged and aggressive, stirred even more controversy around the already unusual event.
Still, the PNP moved forward with logistics, and sponsors pledged to support relief efforts for storm and flood victims regardless of whether the match happens. Photos shared online showed a ring being assembled at the coliseum, suggesting the event was still on track.
But Duterte’s sudden departure has cast doubt on whether he will return in time. Neither his camp nor the city government of Davao has released a formal statement explaining the nature or duration of his trip. His brother, Davao City Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, urged Torre to sign a liability waiver before stepping into the ring, citing safety concerns and the risk of fatal injuries.
“If he is serious, he should sign a waiver first,” Pulong Duterte said. “This is not a game.”
To ensure the event’s legitimacy and safety, the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has issued a resolution requiring that a licensed professional referee and medical team be present at the venue. The match, while unconventional, must still adhere to professional boxing standards under Philippine law.
What began as a heated challenge now borders on spectacle, with political overtones and real risks involved. Duterte and Torre have a recent and turbulent history, particularly after Torre oversaw Duterte’s controversial arrest and transfer to The Hague last March in connection with the International Criminal Court’s ongoing probe into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Whether the match is canceled, delayed, or goes ahead without one of its main contenders remains unclear. What is certain is that this story—once framed as a simple charity exhibition—has spiraled into a national talking point, blurring the lines between entertainment, politics, and personal vendetta.
