Mayor Baste Duterte Flies to Singapore Before Charity Boxing
Acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte flew to Singapore just days ahead of his scheduled charity boxing match against Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III. Sources said Duterte departed from Davao International Airport on the morning of Friday, July 25, 2025, confirming reports from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration.
This sudden trip came two days before the highly anticipated boxing event, set to take place at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Sunday. The charity match was originally proposed to raise funds for victims of the recent southwest monsoon (habagat) floods.
Origin of the Charity Boxing Match Challenge
The boxing match stemmed from Duterte himself, who issued a challenge to Gen. Torre in a vlog posted on his social media platforms. In response, the PNP chief accepted the challenge but suggested transforming the fight into a charity event to support disaster-stricken communities.
However, after agreeing, Duterte introduced a new condition. He insisted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. order mandatory hair follicle drug tests for all government officials before proceeding with the match. “Presidente dapat magpa-hair follicle test ang tanan nga opisyal sa gobyerno,” Duterte reportedly said in his vlog.
Public Reaction and Next Steps
Local leaders noted that Duterte’s sudden trip abroad and added conditions have stirred public curiosity and speculation about the event’s future. Meanwhile, preparations for the charity boxing match continue amid these developments.
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