Castro to critics of Vice Ganda: Don’t be too sensitive over jetski joke

Metro Manila, Philippines - Palace press officer Claire Castro has urged critics of comedian Vice Ganda’s “jetski holiday” skit to lighten up, saying the joke was part of a concert performance and should not be taken too seriously.

In an ambush interview on Tuesday, Castro addressed calls from pro-Duterte supporters to declare Vice persona non grata after the Aug. 8 Superdivas concert spoof referenced former President Rodrigo Duterte’s unfulfilled jetski promise, the West Philippine Sea dispute, and his detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Unang-una, concert naman kasi iyon, hindi naman kailangan maging balat sibuyas ang sinuman… Siguro para sa mga ayaw masaktan, huwag na lang nila panoorin,” Castro said.

[Translation: First of all, it was a concert — no one needs to be overly sensitive… For those who don’t want to be hurt, they should just avoid watching.]

Castro compared the joke to Duterte’s own satirical jetski remark during the 2016 campaign, which many supporters took seriously before he later admitted it was made in jest.

Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña defended Vice, saying humor can be an effective political weapon.

“Speaking truth to power is most potent when it makes people laugh. Ibig sabihin tagos na tagos at tusok na tusok,” he said. [Translation: It means the message struck deep.]

But former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, a staunch Duterte ally, condemned the comedian, accusing him of mocking Duterte at a low point in his life.

“Nasa sahig na si Tatay Digong… nakakulong na, 80-anyos, mamamatay na yata sa kulungan, sinipa-sipa mo pa!” Roque said.

[Translation: Tatay Digong is already down… in prison, 80 years old, possibly dying there, and you still kick him!]

Duterte is detained at The Hague in the Netherlands, facing 43 counts of murder under crimes against humanity.