Davao City Acting Vice Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II has refuted claims that Kapamilya comedian and TV host Vice Ganda was declared persona non grata in the city following his viral “jetski” joke, which many saw as a jab at former president Rodrigo Duterte’s past controversies and supposed detention at The Hague.
In a statement shared by Mindanao Times on Monday, August 11, the grandson of the former president and son of Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte said the city council is focused on policies and programs that benefit Davaoeños, not on “cheap insults and distasteful jokes made for clout.”
“The City Council of Davao has far more important matters to attend to than entertaining baseless, attention-seeking antics from performers desperate for relevance,” Rigo said.
He stressed that the council’s priority is “crafting policies and programs that improve the lives of Dabawenyos—enhancing infrastructure, ensuring public safety, creating livelihood opportunities, and strengthening social services.”
Rigo also criticized Vice Ganda’s comedic act at his Superdivas concert with Regine Velasquez, which many interpreted as poking fun at the Duterte patriarch and his supporters, the Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS).
“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,” he said, adding that the dignity and pride of Dabawenyos are “not for sale” and should not be treated as a joke.
“If Vice Ganda wishes to be remembered for more than empty laughs and headline-grabbing jabs, perhaps it’s time to show the same hard work, discipline, and respect that Davao’s leaders and citizens demonstrate daily. Until then, Davao City will continue moving forward — with or without the approval of those who mistake insult for entertainment.”
The denial comes after online calls from supporters of the Duterte family to declare Vice Ganda persona non grata in Davao, following the comedian’s parody of Duterte’s 2016 “jetski” campaign promise and a meme about his supposed ICC detention in The Hague.