Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque hit back at comedian-host Vice Ganda following the latter’s viral “jet ski holiday” joke about former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Roque, speaking in a Facebook Live video, sided with Duterte supporters who accused Vice of going too far with his remarks during the ‘Super Divas’ concert with Regine Velasquez at the Araneta Coliseum over the weekend.
“Alam mo kasi tayong mga Pilipino, kapag ang isang tao ay nakadapa na, hindi na sinisipa, Vice Ganda,” Roque said. “Ang ginawa mo, nasa sahig na si Tatay Digong, nakakulong na, otsenta anyos, mamamatay na yata sa kulungan, sinipa-sipa mo pa.”
He questioned the comedian’s intentions, adding: “Anong kaligayahan ang nakukuha mo sa ganyang gawain? Hindi ba dapat kung hindi mo siya puwedeng sabihan ng maganda, eh tumahimik ka na lang. Ang gusto mo ba talaga eh, tirisin pa ‘yung tao na nakakulong na at 80 years old? At kung sa tingin mo na natutuwa ang taumbayan, naku ang Pilipino hindi ganyan.”
Roque further warned: “Magdasal ka na lang na palaging nakadapa ‘yang si Tatay Digong at ang mga supporter ni Tatay Digong. Huwag mong kakalimutan, bilog ang daigdig at kapag ‘yan ay bumalik sa ’yo eh, sana maalala naman ng mga supporter ni Tatay Digong na may puso sila, na kapag nakadapa ka, hindi ka namin sisipain.”
Vice’s joke parodied a viral airline advertisement, referencing Duterte’s 2016 campaign statement that he would ride a jet ski to the West Philippine Sea to plant the Philippine flag—a remark Duterte later admitted was a “pure joke.”
In the skit, Vice said: “Nothing beats a jet ski holiday! Ride now from Manila to the West Philippine Sea by jet ski. Get unlimited water bombing from Chinese vessels and free trip to the Hague by the ICC. Promo applies to DDS only; Pinklawan and BBMs are prohibited. ‘Wag niyo kong subukan, mga put*ngina n’yo!”
The joke, which also referenced Duterte’s current detention at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, sparked mixed reactions online—some calling for Vice to be declared persona non grata in Davao City, while others defended it as political satire.
Justice Undersecretary Claire Castro defended Vice’s right to make the joke in her personal vlog: “Tingnan natin ‘yung kabuuan ng joke… Kung hindi naman malinaw na may intensyon na manakit o magpahiya, comedy po ‘yan. Freedom of expression pa rin ‘yan.”
Castro added that Duterte supporters should be able to take a joke, noting: “Lalo na’t ang dating pangulo mismo ay gumagamit din ng humor sa kaniyang mga pahayag at talumpati.”
