President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his 4th annual State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025, RTVM Screengrab
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his Monday’s State of the Nation Address vowed to create a new national program for sports development.
He promised to bring back the sports clubs and conduct games at public schools — initiatives he said could offer early exposure of the youth in sports.
As a result, he said the young athletes are becoming more adept in their fields and gaining more confidence.
The President said they follow the paths of sports champions and world-class athletes, such as boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, gymnast Carlos Yulo, tennis star Alex Eala, among others.
PNP chief Torre during Marcos' SONA on July 28, 2025. RTVM Screengrab
But he surprised the audience when he jokingly mentioned Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre as among the roster of athletes.
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Marcos described Torre as "our new champion."
His mention of Torre drew shouts and claps from the audience, with Marcos grinning briefly, saying, "Nagulat si chief PNP."
Asked about the President's joke after the SONA, Torre said: "Hindi ko alam. Nagulantang ako doon. Nagulantang ako doon. Hindi natin talaga ine-expect."
'BOXING MATCH'
On the eve of Marcos’ SONA, Torre pushed through with a supposed boxing match with acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila, but the Davao mayor was absent.
Torre was declared the "winner by default" after Duterte failed to appear at the venue.
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The supposed challenge arose from public speculation that Duterte had initially called out Torre for a fistfight.
Duterte said that he wanted a new schedule for a proposed boxing match with Torre, saying he had "other things to do."
He also said that he would only agree to the match if Torre could convince the president and all elected officials in the country to undergo hair follicle drug testing.
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