Manila – July 24, 2025 Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed that a resort casino hotel executive , known for philanthropic work, is willing to host the proposed charity boxing match between PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III and Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte . The match stems from a challenge issued by Duterte in a vlog, where he called out Torre for a fistfight. Torre accepted, suggesting the bout be turned into a fundraiser for flood victims affected by the recent southwest monsoon. “For the sake of the many poor flood victims, let’s do it!” Lacson posted on X (formerly Twitter). 🥊 Background The feud traces back to Torre’s role in the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte , Baste’s father, and controversial Pastor Apollo Quiboloy , a known Duterte ally. Torre proposed a 12-round match , possibly at Rizal Memorial Coliseum , with Manny Pacquiao as referee. Lacson, a former PNP chief himself, pledged to buy tickets equivalent to his one-month pensi...
During their high-stakes bilateral meeting at the White House on July 22, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged that trade negotiations with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had not yet reached a final agreement, citing Marcos as a “very tough negotiator.” Trump’s remark—“So far we're not yet there because he's negotiating too tough... But we'll probably agree to something”—underscored the tense but active nature of the talks. At the heart of the negotiation is a proposed reciprocal trade deal that would reshape economic relations between the two countries. The U.S. is pushing for zero tariffs on American goods entering the Philippines, aiming to open the Southeast Asian market to U.S. exports without barriers. In contrast, the Philippines is being asked to accept a 19% tariff on its own exports to the U.S.—a rate just shy of the 20% penalty Trump threatened to impose if no deal is reached by August 1 . This imbalance has sparked debate in M...