Baste’s Brawl, Torre’s TKO: Governance Goes Glove-to-Glove

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — July 24, 2025

IN THE Philippines, where typhoons and egos rage with equal ferocity, two public servants have decided to settle their feud not with policy or reason, but with a fistfight billed as “Bakbakan sa Big Dome.” Philippine National Police Chief Nicolas Torre III and Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte—men tasked with upholding law and leading cities—have opted for a 12-round boxing match in the 15,000-seat Araneta Coliseum. Forget Aristotle’s polis; Manila’s new political philosophy is democracy by TKO.

The Soap Opera Smackdown Setup

This circus began when Torre, a cop with a flair for dramatic arrests, hauled in Baste’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in March 2025 on an International Criminal Court warrant for crimes against humanity. Baste, a surfer-turned-mayor whose political career feels like a spin-off of “Keeping Up with the Dutertes,” hit back in a vlog, branding Torre a “coward” who hides behind his badge and daring him to a street brawl. Torre’s counter? A “charity” boxing match to fund flood relief, with Manny Pacquiao floated as referee. It’s a PR ploy so transparent it could wrap leftovers. This isn’t the Philippines’ first rodeo with governance-as-theater: Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency turned policy into a vigilante reality show, complete with death squads and one-liners.

Torre’s Charity Charade: Nobility or Knockout Nonsense?

Torre’s plan to brawl for bucks is a slick bit of political sleight-of-hand. By cloaking his machismo in altruism, he turns Baste’s thuggish taunt into a fundraiser, daring the mayor to either step into the ring or slink away. Proposing sponsors per round and a livestreamed spectacle, Torre could genuinely aid flood victims in a nation where disaster relief often gets lost in red tape. Plus, a regulated bout might keep tensions from spilling into Davao’s streets, where the Duterte name has long blurred the line between law and lawlessness.

But let’s not crown Torre the Mother Teresa of pugilism. The PNP chief’s job is to lock up crooks, not chase clout. Picture the FBI director challenging a governor to a cage match—ludicrous doesn’t cover it. This stunt risks turning the police into a punchline, further eroding an institution already bruised by drug-war scandals. And the precedent? If every mayor starts squaring off with generals over budget spats, the Araneta Coliseum might as well be annexed as the new Congress. Worst of all, Torre’s charity gambit cheapens a rare win for justice—his arrest of Rodrigo Duterte—by repackaging accountability as a pay-per-view grudge match.

Baste’s Brawler Bloopers: Strongman Swagger or Schoolyard Stupidity?

Baste’s “suntukan tayo” (let’s fistfight) dare is populist catnip, echoing his father’s “I’ll kill you” bravado in a country addicted to strongman stunts. By painting Torre as a badge-wielding coward, Baste rallies his base and shifts the spotlight from his family’s ICC troubles to a macho showdown. It’s a distraction worthy of a reality-TV producer, keeping Davao’s murky finances and Rodrigo’s legal woes out of the headlines.

Yet Baste’s playground taunt—“you’re a coward!”—is governance by temper tantrum. Mayors are meant to fix floods, not fling fists like barroom toughs. His challenge reeks of dynastic arrogance, as if public office is a family crest to be defended with punches, not policies. The risks? A lucky jab could land Baste in court; a loss could dent his tough-guy cred. Either way, he’s gambling Davao’s dignity on a stunt that makes the Philippines look like a WWE episode scripted by a hungover Machiavelli.

From Senate to Squared Circle: A Democracy Dazed

This “Big Dome” debacle isn’t just a publicity stunt; it’s a neon sign flashing the decay of Philippine democracy. When a police chief and a mayor trade hooks instead of ideas, institutions become props in a reality show where oligarchs cheer from the luxury box. The rule of law—already wobbly from years of dynastic feuds and extrajudicial killings—takes a body blow. Torre’s arrest of Rodrigo Duterte was a fleeting nod to ICC accountability; now, it’s fodder for a fight-night promo. Globally, this farce hands critics a megaphone to call the Philippines a “banana republic,” just as it courts investors for its 6.1% GDP growth. For Filipinos, the real sucker punch is the distraction from flooded homes, corrupt elites, and a political system where egos outrank progress.

From Fists to Fixes: A Ringside Reprimand

For Torre: Chief, your badge isn’t a boxing belt. Catch criminals, not clout. The PNP isn’t a pay-per-view startup—leave the drama to streaming platforms.
For Baste: Mayor, run your city, not your mouth. If you’re itching to prove guts, debate Torre on policy—unless you’re dodging a TKO by logic.
For the public: Demand leaders who solve floods, not stage them. The only knockout needed is of dynastic politics, which thrives on these gladiatorial antics. Civil society and the Department of Interior must mediate this feud, not market it, and channel funds to disaster relief without the reality-TV stench.

Final Bell: A Nation Floored by Farce

In a country battered by storms and scandals, Torre and Baste offer not solutions, but a boxing ring. Next up: tackling inflation with a cage match or poverty with a thumb-wrestling showdown. The Philippines deserves leaders who govern, not grandstand—because democracy shouldn’t be a spectacle sold by the round.