Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña defended comedian Vice Ganda after the performer faced backlash from supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte over a “jet ski” joke delivered during a concert with Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.
Cendaña said humor often delivers painful truths, calling it not just an effective remedy but also “the best wake-up call.”
The lawmaker added he saw no issue if Davao City officials declared Vice Ganda persona non grata, saying the comedian remains, for them, a “persona bonggang-bongga.”
Cendaña thanked Vice Ganda for a comedic style that blends entertainment with principle and social awareness, saying the performer’s jokes also address political realities.
He noted that the joke in question struck at Duterte’s continued support base despite the former president’s stance on China’s territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea.
The “jet ski” remark referenced Duterte’s 2016 campaign statement promising to personally ride a jet ski to defend Philippine territory — a pledge he later dismissed as a joke. The comment has since become a political flashpoint, often used to question his sincerity on the West Philippine Sea issue.
Vice Ganda has yet to release a public statement on the persona non grata calls, but Cendaña’s remarks signal strong backing from some political figures despite the controversy.
