Davao City Acting Vice Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II has dismissed a circulating “persona non grata” document against comedian Vice Ganda as fake, stressing that the city council has no time for what he called attention-seeking antics.
“The City Council of Davao has far more important matters to attend to than entertaining baseless, attention-seeking antics from performers desperate for relevance,” Duterte said on August 11, 2025. He clarified that the council is focused on infrastructure development, public safety, livelihood opportunities, and social services.
The controversy stemmed from Vice Ganda’s “jetski holiday” joke during a Manila concert, a jab perceived to be directed at former president Rodrigo Duterte and his supporters. The remark drew strong backlash, including mass unfollows from Duterte loyalists on the comedian’s social media accounts.
“Davao City will not be distracted by cheap insults and distasteful jokes made for clout,” Duterte added. “Public figures like Vice Ganda, who use their platform to mock rather than uplift, reveal more about their own character than about the people they ridicule. The dignity and pride of Dabawenyos are not for sale and certainly not for comedy fodder.”
