By Diego Morra
Observers have argued that the boxing match between Philippine National Police (PNP) General Nicolas Torre and acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte was a “battle” between two clowns, ignoring the fact that the one who hurled the challenge, Baste Duterte, did not materialize but simply flew to Singapore and argued that he did not dare Torre to a fisticuff.
The excuse is pretty ugly as the younger Duterte says “never on Sunday” and begged off as he had something better to do on July 27, 2025. Like escaping from the ring, with a travel permit to boot, and claiming that he never challenged Torre to a fight, only that he wants to punch a “monkey” really hard. Naghambog pero nagtago. Like father, like son. It is the third time that Baste warned that he would sock Torre for his abuses, or for not following Duterte orders, like when the latter mobilized thousands of policemen to arrest Kingdon of Jesus Christ (KOJC) chief “Bishop” Apollo C. Quiboloy and the Dutertes could produce the warm bodies to prevent the arrest of the cult leader. Baste was not around to form a phalanx to defend Quiboloy, who moved out of a rabbit hole to surrender.
Brave as he roars like a lion, Baste was also not around to mobilize millions to prevent Torre from arresting Rodrigo Duterte at the NAIA on March 11, 2025. Not even Senator Bong Go could prevent the Duterte patriarch from being lectured on his Miranda rights and the full text of his arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and then bundled off to the Netherlands. Neither was Sara Duterte Zimmerman Carpio in the vicinity of the NAIA when the arrest warrant was executed. Pulong probably had something better to do as he was absent from the NAIA when the autumn of his patriarch dawned. The only ones defending the elder Duterte were Veronica “Kitty” Duterte and her mommy, Honeylet Avancena, the long-time partner who has to contend with the reported 13 girlfriends of Duterte, who apparently was trying to be a world-class playboy much better than Mr. Footlong Porfirio Rubirosa himself, and whose antics include loitering at the YMCA in Manila in his birthday suit. The Dutertes, who were absent in NAIA howled, wailed and roared after their father was given a luxurious ride in a Gulfstream jet to The Hague, to be welcomed by his “kakosa” at the Scheveningen Prison.
By their absence, ye shall know them. Yet, Rodrigo Duterte himself did not materialize after challenging broadcaster Waldy Carbonnell to a gunfight at the Davao City Hall after the latter sought a meeting with him in the course of an investigation into the assassination of broadcaster Jun P. Pala on September 6, 2003. Carbonnell was assigned by then National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) President Antonio A. Antonio to head a task force to inquire into the murder. Duterte was miffed about the NPC inquiry and warned Carbonnell that he will slap him when he sees him. Carbonnell wasn’t bullied by the Duterte boast and replied on radio: “Sasampalin ko rin siya.” Duterte was furious and said he would bury Carbonnell vertically after their gunfight. Carbonnell laughed at Duterte’s bluster, saying “I am 6’ 3” and I will be standing after this duel.” Carbonnell arrived at the City Hall with his automatic pistol early in the morning from Gen. Santos City and prepared for the gunfight. Lo and behold, the courageous Duterte flew to Taiwan, his staff said. He evaporated at the appointed time and missed the chance to meet his Maker.
Thus, the Duterte DNA carried wayward genes, and the Dutertes Always Chicken Out (DACO) to provide US President Donald Trump good company. As it was in 2003, so it is in 2025. Walang pinagkaiba. Duterte was roundly mocked by the Carbonell, the NPC and Davao journalists who waited for Duterte to arrive and prove he had good eyes, good pulse and good aim. They were utterly frustrated. However, the Carbonnell investigation came up with good leads about the gruesome Pala murder since the broadcaster, once Duterte’s ally, had attacked the mayor’s corrupt activities. Duterte’s systematic harassment of political rivals was so awful that then Maj. Gen. Ramon Montano stripped him of his security detail. Carbonnell discovered bits of evidence linking a graft-ridden project in Davao City as the source of funds for the Davao Death Squad (DDS.)
Carbonnell’s work apparently paid off 14 years hence as retired SPO3 Arthur Lascañas made an unexpected about-face about the DDS in February 2017 after claiming that the group did not exist during Senate hearing in 2016. Lascañas admitted that he was actually a leader of the bloody DDS. He claimed that he and other police officers, rebel returnees and supporters of Rodrigo Duterte carried out numerous killings of criminals and drug suspects in Davao City. Among those that Lascañas admitted killing was Jun Pala, who had condemned the murders of minors under Duterte’s campaign against criminality. Duterte said Pala was a corrupt broadcaster who deserved to die.
Immediately, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) called for a probe into Pala’s assassination. “The recent revelation of SPO3 Arthur Lascanas that the murder of Davao broadcaster Jun Pala was allegedly ordered by now President Rodrigo Duterte deserves serious investigation,” the NUJP argued. “If Duterte did order Pala’s murder, then he should be tried and convicted for it, no ands, ifs, or buts,” the NUJP said. Following Pala’s murder, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the PNP to form a task force to investigate the murders of journalists. The investigation did not lead to the filing of criminal complaints against Duterte in 2003 despite credible findings by priests, human rights lawyers and advocates that his signature was all over the murder scenes. It was a sad joke as all of these things happened after Duterte was named Arroyo’s “crime czar.”
Now, Rodrigo Duterte is 100% DACO. He was exposed to be so when he disappeared for Western-style gunfight in Davao City with Waldy Carbonnell. He also babbled his way out of another fight against a famous Negros politician, whom he dismissed as only fit to have a one-on-one with his driver. Even during his incumbency as president, a top banana in the PDP-Laban was said to have cursed Duterte and ordered to keep his mouth shut during meetings, apparently pestered by the bloviating style of the bloody politician. Why not discuss Baste’s being a DACO? May pinagmanahan. Cowardice and narcissism have seeped deep into the Duterte DNA.
