‘Stupid is forever’

What started as a lighthearted challenge to a fistfight ended up as a boxing match between Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicholas Torre III.

“Gusto mo puntahan kita. Walang camera, suntukan tayo, walang gloves (If you want, I’ll come to you. No cameras, just a fistfight, no gloves),” Duterte said, addressing Torre in a podcast on 26 July.

In line with his character, Torre accepted the challenge despite the significant age difference. However, he modified the “rules” by turning the match into a charity event at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

There, Torre was declared the winner by default after Duterte, who flew with his family to Singapore, failed to show up for the Sunday event. Duterte had set an impossible condition: Torre must persuade President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to mandate hair follicle drug tests for all elected officials.

The event turned out to be successful for Torre, boosting his ego and, based on news reports, culminating in substantial donations and ticket sales to help those affected by the recent flooding.

Despite the initial impression of a “kagaguhan” (nonsense), this aspect of the story shows the potential for public figures to use their platforms for good. It’s a reminder that even amid absurdity, there’s money to be made.

While the exchange may have seemed harmless to some, it revealed a troubling trend in how public officials engage with serious societal issues.

Instead of addressing challenges seriously, some officials prefer humor and spectacle, which can undermine the importance of the issues and distract from the urgent concerns that Filipinos face daily.

It demonstrates the delicate balance public figures must maintain between entertaining the public and responsibly addressing critical matters.

Both camps’ eagerness to engage physically reflects a concerning trend among officials who appear more focused on media visibility than on substantive governance.

The spectacle of a boxing match, even if intended for charity, trivializes the gravity of the problems at hand. As the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago famously remarked, “Stupid is forever,” suggesting that such antics only serve to perpetuate a cycle of triviality among our leaders.

It’s a call for genuine leadership that focuses on finding real solutions to pressing issues, rather than grandstanding. The urgency for responsible governance has never been more apparent.

If they want to prove their manhood, a rematch outside of the ring is not necessary. They can do that by focusing on their mandates: to maintain peace and order, especially by arresting the drug problem in their jurisdictions.

I’m feeling a mix of emotions about this situation — part of me is tempted to get angry. In contrast, another part thinks I should laugh at the absurdity of it all, especially considering the amount of money raised. While it might be a creative way to fundraise for a cause, it doesn’t quite align with conventional standards.

Yeah, right, stupidity is a condition that cannot be cured.

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