The city of Davao and the Philippines at large have found themselves at the epicenter of a heated debate over free speech, justice, and accountability, following a series of contentious events involving former President Rodrigo Duterte and comedian Vice Ganda. The controversy, which has spilled from the halls of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to the streets of Davao, has exposed deep divisions over the legacy of Duterte’s presidency and the boundaries of political satire.
On August 8, 2025, during a concert with Regine Velasquez, Vice Ganda delivered a pointed joke referencing Duterte’s infamous campaign promise to ride a jet ski to the West Philippine Sea—an image that once captured the public imagination but later became a symbol of broken promises. The comedian quipped about a “jet ski holiday from Manila to the West Philippine Sea” with “unlimited water bombing from Chinese vessels” and a “free trip to The Hague by the ICC,” cheekily limiting the offer to diehard Duterte supporters. The joke, which also included a sharp-tongued warning to critics, quickly went viral on social media, igniting outrage among Duterte loyalists.
According to Davao Today, Duterte supporters viewed the joke as a grave insult to the 80-year-old former president, who is currently detained in an ICC-run jail in The Hague, Netherlands, facing charges of crimes against humanity related to his bloody war on drugs. Some supporters even called for boycotts of products endorsed by Vice Ganda, including McDonald’s, reflecting the depth of their anger and the symbolic weight Duterte still carries in his hometown and beyond.
The backlash reached the Davao City Council, where on August 12, 2025, Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang—described by Davao Today as a long-time Duterte ally—filed a resolution condemning Vice Ganda for mocking the former president. The resolution, which was unanimously approved, described Duterte as a “son of Davao” and a “model for the country,” and framed the comedian’s joke as “a disrespectful portrayal, not only an affront to him as a person, but an insult to the Davaoeños who hold him in the highest esteem.” The council’s statement underscored their intent: “The Sanggunian finds it proper to take a formal stand in protecting the dignity of its people and leaders against acts that offend the cultural values and moral sensibilities of the community.”
Rumors swirled online that Vice Ganda had been declared persona non grata in Davao, but acting Vice Mayor Rigo Duterte, the former president’s grandson, quickly clarified that no such declaration had been made. “Contrary to what this viral document suggests, the Council’s time and energy are devoted to crafting policies and programs that improve the lives of Dabawenyos,” he stated, confirming that only a resolution of condemnation had been passed.
The episode has sparked a broader conversation about free speech, hypocrisy, and the standards by which public figures are judged. Critics of the council’s resolution, including popular blogger Tim Timoteo, accused Duterte supporters of double standards, pointing out their silence or laughter in the face of Duterte’s own offensive jokes during his presidency. Timoteo’s viral post, shared over 29,000 times, highlighted notorious quips by Duterte about rape, Pope Francis, and even God, asking why Duterte’s supporters were suddenly demanding sainthood-level decorum from his critics. “When you made the joke, the bar is suddenly set to sainthood,” Timoteo wrote, thanking Vice Ganda for speaking out when most celebrities remained silent.
Reyna Valmores Salinas, chairperson of the LGBTQIA+ group Bahaghari, also came to Vice Ganda’s defense, asserting, “it is Vice Ganda’s right—and the right of every Filipino LGBTQIA+—to speak about any issue in the country.” Salinas reminded supporters that Duterte himself had made the jet ski promise and questioned why offensive remarks by the former president were tolerated while criticism was not. “Let’s get real,” she said, calling on the LGBTQ+ community to emulate Vice Ganda’s courage and scrutinize politicians’ broken promises.
Meanwhile, the legal and political drama surrounding Duterte continues to unfold on the international stage. As reported by Philippine Daily Inquirer and other outlets, Duterte’s defense team filed a motion on August 7, 2025, with the ICC Appeals Chamber to disqualify Prosecutor Karim Khan from the case, alleging a conflict of interest. The defense claimed Khan had previously represented victims of alleged extra-judicial killings in the Philippines and thus could not impartially oversee the investigation. Khan has been on leave since May 2025, pending a United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation into unrelated allegations of sexual misconduct. The ICC has scheduled a confirmation of charges hearing for Duterte on September 23, 2025.
As of August 15, 2025, Duterte remains detained in The Hague, awaiting trial for crimes against humanity connected to his anti-drug campaign—a campaign that, according to human rights groups, resulted in the deaths of between 12,000 and 30,000 people. The ICC recently granted Duterte’s request to extend the deadline for submitting defense documents, a small but meaningful victory for his legal team as they prepare for the upcoming hearing. This extension allows more time to gather supporting evidence and testimonies, but as local observers have noted, it is only a temporary reprieve.
Back in Davao, the local Regional Trial Court has issued multiple warrants of arrest against former Police Officer Arturo Lascañas, who confessed to being a leading member of a death squad allegedly created by Duterte during his long tenure as mayor. Lascañas, whose testimony has become a linchpin in the ICC’s case, reportedly fled the country with his family, his escape allegedly aided by parties interested in pursuing cases against Duterte. Another self-confessed participant in the killings, a member of the CAFGU (a police/military auxiliary group), has not faced charges, raising questions about selective prosecution and the fate of other alleged members of the so-called Davao Death Squad.
Amid these high-profile controversies, some local voices in Davao have expressed frustration that the city council is more preoccupied with symbolic gestures—such as condemning comedians—than with pressing local issues like environmental degradation and flood prevention. As one commentator put it, “We have yet to hear or read of reports of a member of the Davao City Council introducing proposed measures highly relevant to the present condition of the city.”
Vice President Sara Duterte, when asked about the controversy over Vice Ganda’s joke, appeared unbothered, stating she was unaware of the incident and leaving the response to the city council.
The ongoing saga surrounding Duterte—at home and abroad—has become a mirror for the Philippines, reflecting the country’s struggles with justice, accountability, and the ever-shifting boundaries of political discourse. Whether in the laughter of a comedian, the fury of a council resolution, or the solemnity of an international court, the debate over Duterte’s legacy shows no sign of fading soon.
