Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte has challenged Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, General Nicolas Torre III, to prove the effectiveness of the police’s three-minute response program.

Duterte made the challenge during his podcast when he was asked how peace and order would be maintained in Davao City under the new leadership of the Police Regional Office-Davao (PRO-11) and Davao City Police Office (DCPO).

“Si Torre lang man ang nagsabi na may 3-minute response siya. So, it’s his responsibility na walang krimen na mangyayari dito sa Davao because it’s the PNP’s job to secure the city. And ‘di naman ako pinapili ng city director. I do not know if I can give advice kung paano gagawin ang trabaho ng mga pulis dito,” Duterte said.

“Pero pag itong city director na inilagay ni Torre hindi makikinig sa akin, he will not cooperate, then it’s up to them,” he added.

Duterte reiterated his challenge to the PNP to prove to the Davaoeños how effective the three-minute response program is.

“But tingin ko ang gagawin niyan ay harassment lang talaga. Mr. Torre sanay na ako sayo. Sanay na kami sa iyo. Kinidnap mo nga ‘yung tatay ko eh. Kung gusto mo akong harassin, harassin mo lang ako. Kasi matapang ka lang naman, you have the position eh,” Duterte said.

“Pero kung magsuntukan tayo, alam kong makaya kita. Kung ganun lang…but you’re a coward. You are nothing without your position, sa totoo lang. Nagmamatalinuhan ka lang, ‘yan lang talaga ang ginawa mo. May 3-minute response ka, may nakaabang na diyan, nakita pa talaga ng media. Kawawa ka naman sa totoo lang,” Duterte added.

Torre may have thought that Duterte was challenging him for a fistfight, which was why he accepted the supposed challenge.

“Kung ganoon ang gusto niya, madaling pagbigyan ‘yan. Boxing nalang para madaling iset-up at gawin natin this coming Sunday, 9 oclock. I’ll be there in Araneta,” Torre said.

“Ang una kong naisip, uy tamang-tama. Maraming kababayan natin ngayon ang nangangailangan ng tulong na naapektuhan ng bagyo at baha. Maybe, this is a very good time para sa isang charity boxing match,” Torre added.

On the issue of public safety, Duterte slammed the PNP for allegedly suggesting that the city is no longer safe.

“Kayo PNP, sabihin niyo hindi na safe ang Davao. So, ano… ako ba ang pulis o kayo? Kung ang sa Index, ang Davao City is third to Chiangmai in Southeast Asia, why cannot you maintain that? If you cannot maintain that, that means you are not doing our job. That means that the PNP is not doing their job. Kapag nangyari ‘yun, who’s to blame, ako o ikaw?” Duterte said.