Manila, Philippines — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed on Thursday that the chief executive officer of a well-known resort casino hotel is offering to host the proposed charity boxing bout between Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III and Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Lacson shared that a “credible source” informed him of the offer made by a popular hotel executive, who is also known for his philanthropic work.
“A credible source told me last night, the CEO of a popular resort casino hotel, a well-known philanthropist, is willing to open their ballroom for the ‘charity boxing match’ between Nick Torre and Baste Duterte,” Lacson wrote.
The former PNP chief expressed his support for the event, emphasizing the potential benefit it could bring to those affected by recent flooding.
“For the sake of the many poor flood victims, let’s do it!” he added.
The buzz around the unusual match began when Mayor Duterte challenged Gen. Torre to a fistfight during a vlog posted on Sunday. In response, Torre on Wednesday publicly accepted the challenge, proposing that it be held as a charity boxing match to support disaster victims.
While the date, location, and final arrangements have yet to be confirmed, the prospect of the match has drawn public attention and stirred online debate.
Background
The challenge came amid heightened tensions between the PNP and some political figures, although the full context of the feud remains unclear. However, the idea of turning the conflict into a charitable event has been met with mixed reactions—some seeing it as an opportunity for fundraising, while others criticize it as a publicity stunt.
If the boxing match pushes through, it could set an unusual precedent in Philippine politics and law enforcement, merging conflict resolution, entertainment, and philanthropy in one headline-grabbing event.
