DUTERTE VS MARCOS

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has launched scathing criticisms against the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., labeling it the “most inefficient” he has ever witnessed. His remarks come amidst an ongoing public spat that has extended to a charity boxing match challenge involving the Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief.

In a recent episode of the Basta Dabawenyo Podcast on July 20, 2025, Duterte urged citizens to voice their discontent. “I don’t know why we should continue to tolerate this kind of administration. I think people, as your responsibility, as citizens of this country, should voice out. Huwag kayong titigil because something… it is not something, it is wrong,” he asserted.

The acting mayor claimed that Marcos’s presidency has inflicted significant damage on the country, alleging that public funds have been depleted to the point where the government lacks sufficient money for infrastructure projects. He also dismissed Marcos’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) as inconsistent with previous promises, citing the unfulfilled pledge to lower rice prices to P20 per kilo. Duterte advised the President to prioritize work, listen to the people’s problems, and offer concrete solutions, rather than engaging in what he called “photo ops” that do not address the rising cost of basic goods, which he attributed to alleged corruption within the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and PhilHealth.

Boxing challenge and drug test demand

The political jabs escalated into a personal challenge when Acting Mayor Duterte, in his podcast last Sunday, challenged PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to a fistfight. Torre accepted the challenge on Wednesday, proposing to turn it into a charity boxing match to raise funds for victims of the southwest monsoon (“habagat”).

However, Duterte, in a social media clip posted Thursday, laid down his own condition for the event: “If you’re really serious about this, if you really want that charity event and you’ve laid some conditions, then let me lay my own conditions for the event.” He then demanded, “Talk to your master, the president. Let it come out of his mouth that all elected officials should undergo a hair follicle drug test. Then, I will accept your charity event. No problem.”

The Duterte family has repeatedly called for President Marcos Jr. to undergo a hair follicle drug test, particularly since Vice President Sara Duterte’s relationship with the President soured.

PNP Chief Torre, who was promoted to a four-star general in June, is no stranger to the Dutertes’ criticisms. As the former director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Torre led the enforcement of the arrest warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte last March. The younger Duterte has publicly criticized Torre’s promotion, suggesting it was not based on merit and involved an unusual jump in ranks. Torre countered by pointing out that former President Duterte also appointed ex-Davao top cop Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, then a brigadier general, to be PNP chief in 2016.

Despite Duterte’s conditions, Torre has already begun training for the proposed boxing match at the PNP Gymnasium in Camp Crame, Quezon City, and stated that the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila is being prepared for the event. Torre added that even if Duterte does not show up, sponsors have already committed to donating relief goods for flood victims.

Baste Duterte, however, continued his provocative remarks, stating, “Don’t worry, Torre, because I’ve long wanted to beat up a monkey.” He also questioned the PNP chief’s motives: “If you really want a fight, why do you need to make it about charity? Why do you need to use what’s going on now, that there’s a flood there in Metro Manila?”