An Open Letter to Sebastian "Baste" Duterte
Disclaimer: This is an open letter to Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, but it’s not an endorsement of any side. I am neither a supporter of the Marcos nor the Duterte political dynasties—both names represent dark chapters in Philippine history and continue to drag our democracy backward.
Dear Acting Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte,
Your recent dramatic challenge to PNP Chief General Nicolas Torre III, followed by your sudden retreat and condition involving President Marcos taking a drug test, pushed me to write this open letter. As someone who watches politics in this country with real concern, I feel the need to point out the obvious mess in your family’s so-called moral standards.
The Ultimate Irony: You ARE a Government Official
You said government officials should undergo drug testing—and I agree. But here’s the part you seem to ignore: you are one of them. You’re the acting mayor of Davao City. You fall under the group of public officials who should be tested. Your own city even has a drug testing policy—Executive Order 77, Series of 2022—requiring tests for “all officials, employees, and/or persons working in the city government.”
So why are you demanding others get tested, when you haven’t taken the test yourself? Either you forgot your role, or you’re playing favorites with yourself. You can’t be the one pointing fingers and pretend you’re above the rules.
How You Lost the Fight Without Throwing a Single Punch
Yesterday, I posted my take on how you lost this whole drama even before stepping into the ring. Some people gave me flak for saying you were at least “thinking.” But I had to give you something, even just that—because if you weren’t thinking at all, then the people of Davao are in more trouble than they know.
Here’s exactly how you lost:
You challenged Torre to a fistfight. You called him a coward and said he’s nothing without his title. But Torre didn’t back down. He said yes right away. And he flipped the whole thing—turning it into a charity boxing match to raise money for typhoon and flood victims. He started training, booked the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, and even got sponsors.
Then you bailed.
When you saw Torre was serious, you changed the game. You suddenly said the fight can only happen if President Marcos takes a drug test first. That’s not strategy. That’s backing out while pretending you’re still on higher ground.
Torre didn’t just say yes—he beat you at your own challenge. He took your angry outburst and turned it into something that could help people. While he trained quietly, you posted videos explaining why you weren’t going. The difference couldn’t be clearer: Torre looked like someone trying to do something useful. You looked like someone trying to avoid a fight you started.
The Audacity of Setting Conditions
You demanded Marcos take a hair follicle drug test before you’d agree to fight Torre. What makes you think you’re in any position to demand anything? You said, “Please ask your boss, the president, to state publicly that all elected officials should undergo a hair follicle drug test,” as if you had the right to throw down conditions.
Let me ask you this: What right does your family even have to talk about honesty, responsibility, or public service?
While you’re busy making demands, your father is sitting in a detention cell in The Hague, waiting for trial for crimes against humanity. The ICC arrested him in March 2025 for the “war on drugs” that killed over 30,000 people—including women and children. He admitted he ran a “death squad” while he was mayor of Davao. He also said he personally killed suspects.
But that didn’t stop him from winning as Davao mayor again, even from prison. Now, you’re standing in as acting mayor while your father’s locked up on the other side of the world. That alone shows how broken our system is when it comes to political families in power.
Your Sister's Mounting Scandals
Vice President Sara Duterte is also swimming in problems of her own. She was impeached in February 2025 for 24 offenses, including threatening to have President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated. In late 2024, she even said she hired someone to do the job if she ended up dead.
On top of that, the Commission on Audit said her office spent ₱125 million in confidential funds in just 11 days. Out of that, ₱73 million was flagged for being irregular or lacking proper documents. And if that wasn’t bizarre enough, some of the receipts were signed using fake names like “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Chippy McDonald,” and “Carlos Miguel Oishi.” That’s not just suspicious. That’s fraud made to look like a joke.
Your Brother's Criminal Charges
Your eldest brother Paolo isn’t off the hook either. He’s facing criminal complaints for physical assault, grave threats, and even human trafficking after allegedly attacking a businessman with a knife at a bar in Davao back in February 2025. There’s CCTV footage of the whole thing. And this isn’t even the first time. In 2017, he was tied to a P6.4 billion shabu smuggling case at Customs. Witnesses said the money was collected “for the President’s son.”
Your Own Performance Record
And you? You've been called out for doing a poor job as mayor. Some even say you’ve become known for “legendary incompetence.” At one point, your sister even floated the idea that you might run for president in 2028. But you later brushed it off, saying you’re sick of Manila politics and people there are “plastic and transactional.” Maybe that’s why you’d rather pick fights than actually lead.
Even Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla slammed your behavior. He said your challenge to Torre was uncalled for, especially coming from a city mayor. He said you should’ve been acting like a leader, someone young people could look up to—not someone who starts barroom brawls on national TV.
The Family’s Unexplained Wealth
Senator Antonio Trillanes has brought up serious allegations that your father hid over ₱2 billion in secret bank accounts while he was still mayor. Between 2003 to 2016, you and your siblings reportedly got $7.5 million in deposits, and your father’s partner got another $3.8 million. Where did all that money come from? Nobody’s giving straight answers. And until someone does, your family has no business preaching about clean government.
The Apollo Quiboloy Connection
Let’s not forget the creepy part—your family’s connection to Apollo Quiboloy.
This is the same pastor now facing charges for child sex trafficking, abuse, and forcing girls as young as 12 into his circle. Your father admitted he accepted gifts from Quiboloy—three Davao properties, a helicopter, a private jet worth millions. Quiboloy even offered those for your father’s campaign. In 2025, your father was made administrator of Quiboloy’s church assets.
And when authorities went looking for Quiboloy, your father admitted he knew where he was hiding. He even called it a “secret.” That makes him part of the cover-up.
Why This Family Feud Isn’t Helping Anyone
Your public spat with the Marcoses isn’t helping anyone except yourselves. Both your families are part of the problem. Political scientists have called families like yours “fat dynasties”—the kind that hold onto power too long and too tight, while everyone else stays poor and stuck.
The 10 poorest provinces in this country? All run by political dynasties. Studies show that poverty and corruption get worse in places where one family has a stronghold on politics. That’s the kind of system we have now.
And if you think the Marcoses are any better, they’re not. They plundered somewhere between $5 billion to $30 billion during Martial Law. And now, nearly 250 political families run the show in all 82 provinces. About 80% of Congress is made up of people from political families. That’s not democracy. That’s a monopoly.
The Real Issue: The Broken System
This isn’t just about your boxing challenge or your fake sense of moral high ground. This is about a system that’s broken—run by families like yours and the Marcoses, who use power for personal gain.
While you two throw jabs at each other in public, the country suffers. Our people are stuck with rising prices, bad healthcare, poor education, and crooked officials who are too busy protecting their own bloodlines.
No matter who wins your political mud fight, the people lose.
A Challenge for You
Instead of picking a fight with Torre and hiding behind a drug test condition, here’s a real challenge:
Start with your own family.
Ask your father to cooperate with the ICC.
Tell your sister to explain where the ₱125 million went.
Tell Paolo to face his charges honestly and in public.
Then do the one thing you’ve refused to do: get tested. Voluntarily. Publicly. No ifs, no conditions. You said all government officials should get tested, right? So go first.
Because until you do all that, your words mean nothing. Your moral high ground is built on sand.
The Filipino people don’t need more drama. They need leaders who serve the public, not their own clan.
Until you’re ready to clean your own house, maybe it’s time you stop looking for fights you’re not ready to finish.
Respectfully but firmly,
A Concerned Filipino Citizen
The author is a content writer and political observer based in Central Luzon who writes about Philippine politics and governance issues.
SOURCES:
Inquirer – Baste Duterte demands drug test for Marcos before Torre bout
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2086721/baste-duterte-demands-drug-test-for-marcos-before-torre-boutPhilStar – Torre confirms boxing match; Baste sets conditions
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/07/24/2460434/torre-confirms-boxing-match-baste-duterte-mayor-sets-conditionsDavao City Government – Anti-Drug Policy Amended
https://www.davaocity.gov.ph/local-government/anti-drug-policy-amended-by-davao-city-government/PhilStar – Torre accepts Baste’s fistfight challenge
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/07/24/2460263/torre-accepts-bastes-fistfight-challengeGMA News – Torre, Baste Duterte fistfight
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/953530/torre-baste-duterte-fistfight/story/Daily Tribune – Torre on Baste’s challenge: Let’s get it on
https://tribune.net.ph/2025/07/23/torre-on-bastes-challenge-lets-get-it-onSouth China Morning Post (SCMP) – Duterte’s son challenges Philippine police chief
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3319461/dutertes-son-challenges-philippine-police-chief-fist-fight-perfect-says-generalPhilStar – PNP Chief Torre accepts fight dare
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/07/23/2460128/pnp-chief-torre-accepts-baste-dutertes-fistfight-dareGMA News – Torre vs Baste set for Sunday
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/953645/torre-vs-baste-set-for-sunday-at-rizal-memorial-coliseum-pnp-chief-says/story/Inquirer – Torre-Baste bout has conditions
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2086810/pnp-chief-says-bout-set-but-baste-now-has-demandsSunStar Davao – Baste demands drug test for all elected officials
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/baste-demands-drug-test-for-officials-before-torre-fightYouTube – Torre’s press conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNx4tqMpesQ&vl=hiPhilStar – Torre training, Baste sets conditions
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/07/25/2460531/torre-starts-training-baste-sets-conditions-boutPhilStar – Paolo Duterte calls for drug testing for all officials
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/08/13/2377572/paolo-duterte-wants-routine-drug-tests-president-elected-officialsScribd – Davao City Ordinance No. 0506-13
https://www.scribd.com/document/466793667/DAVAO-CITY-ORDINANCE-NO-0506-13Politiko – Baste demands drug test before Torre match
https://politiko.com.ph/2025/07/24/fight-or-flight-baste-duterte-demands-drug-test-for-marcos-other-politikos-before-torre-match1/snitch-network/Davao City Government – IRR 032 Series of 2018
https://www.davaocity.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IRR-032-SERIES-OF-2018_WITH-SIGNATURE.pdfMindaNews – Baste’s condition: Marcos must order drug test for all
https://mindanews.com/top-stories/2025/07/bastes-condition-to-fight-torre-for-pbbm-to-order-hair-follicle-drug-test-to-all-elected-officials/News5 – Baste Duterte demands Marcos drug test
https://news.tv5.com.ph/breaking/read/baste-duterte-demands-marcos-drug-test-before-boxing-match-with-torreInquirer – Baste dares Torre to a fistfight
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2086012/baste-duterte-dares-pnp-chief-to-a-fistfight-torre-accepts-the-challengeABS-CBN News – Torre vs Duterte fight for charity
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/23/torre-vs-duterte-pnp-chief-accepts-fistfight-challenge-for-charity-2001Philippine News Agency (PNA) – PNP responds to Baste Duterte
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1254933PhilBoxing – Torre-Duterte bout announcement
https://philboxing.com/news/story-174577.htmlManila Bulletin – Baste slams PNP, triggers Torre’s response
https://mb.com.ph/2025/07/23/baste-duterte-slams-pnp-earns-boxing-match-dare-from-torreInquirer – Lacson reacts to Torre-Duterte bout
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2086422/lacson-on-torre-duterte-matchManila Bulletin – Viral Baste training video debunked
https://mb.com.ph/2025/07/24/viral-mayor-duterte-training-video-old-reposted-says-davao-city-information-officerManila Bulletin – Torre’s practice paused amid Baste video
https://mb.com.ph/2025/07/24/partida-torres-boxing-practice-cancelled-as-video-of-bastes-training-goes-viralYouTube – Torre commentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34cCXlf0UsEMindaNews – Torre vs Baste match coverage
https://mindanews.com/top-stories/2025/07/baste-vs-gen-torre-in-boxing-match/DZRH – Baste demands drug test for officials
https://dzrh.com.ph/post/baste-duterte-demands-drug-test-for-all-elected-officials-before-boxing-match-with-torreInquirer – Torre tells Baste to prepare
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2086283/torre-to-baste-duterte-get-ready-to-rumbleThe Filipino Times – Baste backs out unless Marcos gets tested
https://filipinotimes.net/latest-news/2025/07/24/baste-duterte-hits-back-no-charity-match-unless-marcos-takes-drug-test-first/Rolling Stone Philippines – Torre-Duterte boxing match coverage
https://rollingstonephilippines.com/state-of-affairs/politics/torre-duterte-boxing-match/YouTube – Commentary on Torre-Baste
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzG7NjYdAAYYouTube – Torre’s reaction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z3aBgVuwFYYouTube – Training commentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E380-KxDCgwInstagram – Baste Duterte reel
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMfMqv4P208/YouTube – Analysis and media reaction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDS6XReSJvQ
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