PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. jokingly included Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III in a list of the country’s sports heroes during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
While acknowledging the accomplishments of prominent athletes such as Manny Pacquiao, Hidilyn Diaz, and EJ Obiena, Marcos added Torre to the list, eliciting laughter from the audience.
The inclusion of Torre, who recently won a charity boxing match by default, was presented as a lighthearted moment during the otherwise serious address, highlighting the President’s attempt to inject some humor into the proceedings.
The unexpected mention of the PNP chief in this context generated significant amusement and provided a brief respite from the more formal aspects of the SONA.
The President’s playful acknowledgment of General Torre’s “victory” followed a charity boxing match where Torre’s opponent, Davao City acting mayor Sebastian Duterte, failed to appear. T
his unexpected inclusion of the PNP Chief among the nation’s sports heroes underscores the lighthearted nature of the moment. The President’s laughter and the visible reaction of General Torre himself further emphasized the informal and humorous tone of this segment of the SONA. The inclusion of General Torre in the list, however, served as a brief, humorous interlude in a speech primarily focused on serious matters of national importance.
