Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has publicly criticized “Phenomenal Box-Office Star” Vice Ganda for making a joke about former president Rodrigo Duterte during the “Super Divas” concert with Regine Velasquez at the Araneta Coliseum over the weekend.
Roque echoed sentiments from Duterte supporters, who claimed Vice’s comments were disrespectful to the 80-year-old former leader, now detained in The Hague, Netherlands.
“Alam mo kasi tayong mga Pilipino, kapag ang isang tao ay nakadapa na, hindi na sinisipa, Vice Ganda,” Roque said in a social media video. “Ang ginawa mo, nasa sahig na si Tatay Digong, nakakulong na, otsenta anyos, mamamatay na yata sa kulungan, sinipa-sipa mo pa.”
He further questioned the comedian’s intentions. “Anong kaligayahan ang nakukuha mo sa ganyang gawain? Hindi ba dapat kung hindi mo siya pupuwedeng sabihan ng maganda, eh tumahimik ka na lang?” Roque added, stressing that Filipinos are not known for mocking those who are already down.
Roque also warned that the situation could reverse one day. “Bilog ang daigdig,” he said, urging Vice to pray for Duterte and his supporters instead.
Vice Ganda’s “jet ski holiday” segment during the concert—mocking Duterte’s earlier West Philippine Sea statements—has since drawn heavy backlash from the so-called DDS (Diehard Duterte Supporters). The bit included satirical lines about a “free trip to The Hague” and “unlimited water bombing from Chinese vessels,” which critics said crossed the line.
