Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday gave his opinion on Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte’s challenging Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to a fistfight, which the latter has accepted.
Speaking to DZMM, Remulla said it is now up to Duterte if he will push through with the match, saying he is backing the PNP chief.
“Sinabi ko naman sa inyo, bulldog ‘yun eh. Pitbull. Hindi umaatras ‘yun. Sobrang pagkalalaki nun,” he joked, adding he doubts the fight would push through.
Remulla pointed out disputes should be settled before the courts and not with fisticuffs.
“‘Yan ang kultura na gusto nating palitan. Justice or settlement of disputes should not be done fist-to-fist. The rule of law must prevail at all times,” The DILG chief said.
“Para mag-hamon ka ng suntukan, mayor ka pa naman ng pinakamalaking city sa Mindanao, anak ka ng dating pangulo, mataas ang tingin ng tao sa iyo tapos maghahamon ka ng suntukan, anong sasabihi ng mga bata? Na OK lang makipaghamon ng suntukan? Nagalit ka, sabihin mo suntukan na lang tayo. Dun ako nababahala, na 'yung ehemplo natin sa kabataan ay nasisira.”
Remulla said that while freedom of speech is allowed, he urged Duterte to conduct himself in a proper manner.
He also pointed out that the Davao official should just help people who have been affected by massive floods this week.
“Ngayon pa na naghihirap ang mga tao, ang daming nasalanta, maghahamon siya ng suntukan…Tumulong na lang siya kesa maghamon ng suntukan,” he said.
Duterte has castigated Torre for having a hand in the arrest and transfer of his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, where he faces a charge of crimes against humanity for the deaths of tens of thousands of people during the war on drugs.
In a podcast, Duterte challenged the PNP chief to a fistfight, which Torre has accepted, saying the fight could be a charity match to help flood victims.