MANILA, Philippines — Comedian Vice Ganda joked about Sen. Ronald dela Rosa during the Thursday episode of the TV show It’s Showtime, nearly a day after gunfire incidents at the Senate complex and reports that the senator had left the premises.
During the May 14 episode, Vice Ganda teased a contestant whose bald appearance resembled dela Rosa’s.
“Ah, nakalabas na!” Vice Ganda said as the contestant appeared onstage, drawing laughter from co-hosts and the studio audience.
Co-host Vhong Navarro responded, “Si Mond ’yan.”
Vice Ganda then replied, “Hindi, nabasa ko kanina, nakalabas nga.”
The comedian also asked the contestant to sing with him, appearing to reference dela Rosa’s recent interview in which the senator sang the Philippine Military Academy hymn while seeking protection from the Senate and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
Vice Ganda did not directly mention dela Rosa by name during the segment.
Dela Rosa has remained in headlines following tensions at the Senate since Monday over a possible arrest linked to an International Criminal Court warrant connected to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
On Wednesday night, authorities reported gunfire inside the Senate complex while dela Rosa stayed inside the building under Senate protection. Authorities later said no injuries were reported and that law enforcement agencies had launched investigations into the incident.
Malacañang later confirmed that dela Rosa had left the Senate premises hours after the gunfire incident. Authorities have not publicly disclosed his whereabouts.
