NETIZENS REACT: Vice Ganda’s Duterte joke at concert

“You’re really brave, meme.”

Vice Ganda sparks both cheers and jeers with his comedic take on a viral meme, alluding to the West Philippine Sea and former President Rodrigo Duterte.
PHOTO/S: Vice Ganda on Instagram/ICC

Some were happy and some were even threatening after Vice Ganda made a joke about former President Rodrigo Duterte.

This happened on the first night of  Vice’s Superdivas: The Concert  with Regine Velasquez on August 8, 2025.

In videos taken by concertgoers, Regine can be seen singing “Hold my Hand” by Jess Glynne.

The  It’s Showtime  mainstay host happily walked on stage with back-up dancers carrying a tarpaulin that read “Jet ski holiday.”

A little later, Regine suddenly stopped singing, which was Vice’s imitation of the viral Jet2holiday meme, a promotional advertisement for a tour operator based in the United Kingdom.

In Vice’s version, he jokingly imitated Duterte’s controversial “jet ski promise” regarding the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, in the middle of his presidential campaign, he was asked what his plan was to repel China, which wanted to occupy the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.

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Duterte’s answer: “I will go to China, if they don’t want it, I will ask the Navy to bring me to the nearest boundary there in the Spratly Islands, I will get off, I will ride a jet ski carrying the Filipino flag and I will go there to their airport, then I will plant it.”

In 2021, he is already in office as President of the Philippines, but he insists that the “jet ski promise” was just part of his campaign joke.

He said he didn’t think his supporters would take it seriously.

Back to Vice’s joke, he also mentioned “The Hague” and “ICC,” and even managed to imitate the former President’s crisp swearing.

Duterte is currently being held at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands, on charges of crimes against humanity, stemming from his bloody campaign against drugs.

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Former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the PNP at NAIA Terminal 3 on March 11, 2025, upon his return from Hong Kong, following an ICC warrant for crimes against humanity. 
Photo/s: @veronicaduterte on Instagram

Ang spiel ni Vice: “Nothing beats a jet ski holiday, right now from Manila to the West Philippine Sea via jet ski.

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“Get unlimited water bombing from Chinese vessels and a free trip to The Hague by the ICC.

“Promo applies to DDS (diehard Duterte squad) only. Pinklawans and BBMs (Bongbong Marcos supporters) are prohibited.

“Don’t test me, you bastards.”

NETIZENS REACT TO Vice GANDA’s Joke

Vice’s challenge garnered mixed reactions.

Of course, many of Duterte’s supporters are now very angry because of what they say is the  It’s Showtime  host’s disrespect for the former President.

“As a Davaoeño, I appeal to the City Government of Davao to declare Vice Ganda an unwelcome person in Davao City,” tweeted a netizen on X (now Twitter):

Saad ng isa, “Imagine needing an old man in jail to make your concert interesting.”

Ito yung pagbabanta: “The way you mocked PRRD at his lowest, I’m sure you won’t mind if we cheer and mock you when your karma comes. Million of us will wait for it.”

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Some also said: “You have a day too, Vice.”

There were those who were shocked and defended Vice.

A netizen commented: “You are so brave, meme. Vice is consistent. This is probably one of the things I admire about him. I admire people who have a strong opinion.”

A fan’s point is making a big deal out of a joke (published as is): “Your standards are too high for Vice Ganda, who is not a public servant. But for Digong, who is a scoundrel with rape jokes, with ‘kill’ statements, that’s okay with you. Vice Ganda is an entertainer; Digong became a president whose words immediately became policies.”

A concerned netizen (published as is) called out: “Protect Vice Ganda. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE. To the artists and politicians he is promoting, maybe!”

Another added: “As usual, the DDS are angry again over Vice Ganda’s comedy skit. But when their boss is the one swearing, it’s okay with them. Hypocrites.”