Vice Ganda Brings Up Robin Padilla’s Bilibid Past in Viral Joke
ROBIN PADILLA – A playful exchange on It’s Showtime took an unexpected turn when Vice Ganda brought up Robin Padilla in one of his signature jokes.
Vice Ganda once again had viewers laughing after throwing a joke at Sen. Robin Padilla during the Saturday episode of “It’s Showtime” on August 15.
The comedian-host was exchanging playful banter with co-hosts Vhong Navarro and Jhong Hilario when he noticed Vhong’s outfit. Vice compared the look to Robin’s character in the 1991 film “Maging Sino Ka Man,” which starred Robin alongside Megastar Sharon Cuneta.
Vice teased Vhong, “Hiniram mo pa yung costume ni Robin Padilla sa ‘Maging Sino Ka Man’ with Sharon Cuneta!”
Vhong joined the fun by impersonating Robin, saying, “Aba siyempre tol, dapat ganun tayo!” He also sang a portion of the movie’s theme song after being prompted by Jhong.
Vice then delivered another punchline that appeared to reference Robin’s career as a senator.
“Ang galing,” said Vice. “Magaling talaga ’to, idol ko ‘to eh, nakakapagpasa ‘yan ng batas sa Bilibid.”
The remark drew laughter from the hosts and the “madlang people” in the audience.
The joke appeared to echo a controversial statement made by Robin’s wife, Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, in a vlog in 2022. At the time, Mariel discussed Robin’s qualifications to run for senator, citing his Criminology education and his experience of being incarcerated while allegedly being connected to an issue addressed by legislation.
Her comments previously drew criticism from netizens, who questioned the literal interpretation of her statement.
Recently, Mariel clarified what she meant in the old vlog.
“Common sense is most uncommon,” said Mariel.
“Siyempre, you have to be a legislator to actually make and pass a law. That vlog was made in 2022, when critics were questioning Robin’s qualifications. Ang sinasabi nila, ‘Walang tinapos na pag-aaral. Marunong ba ’yan gumawa ng batas? Eh ’yan ang trabaho ng senador.;”
“So I corrected the point they were trying to make,” she added.
Mariel also explained her earlier reference to Robin and legislation, noting that his incarceration was associated with the issue addressed by Republic Act No. 8294.
“When Robin was in Bilibid, his case became closely associated with the issue that RA 8294 addressed—illegal possession of firearms. RA 8294 was enacted in 1997 while he was incarcerated.”
“Now, IF gamitin natin ang talino na binigay sa atin ng Maykapal… sino kaya ang nag-draft at nagpasa ng bill na naging RA 8294?”
“Obviously, legislators,” she said.
She emphasized that Robin was not a senator at the time and never meant that he personally authored or voted for the law.
“That was exactly the point. Robin was NOT a senator then, and I never meant that he literally sat in Congress, authored the bill, and voted for its passage. His experience was being cited to show that even before becoming a senator, he had firsthand experience of how laws—and changes in laws—can directly affect a person’s life,” she said.
“Context matters. Comprehension matters too,” Mariel said.
Robin was elected senator in 2022 and remains one of the country’s lawmakers. Mariel, meanwhile, previously served as a co-host of “It’s Showtime” before leaving the program in 2019.
As of the latest episode, neither Mariel nor Robin has publicly reacted to or commented on Vice Ganda’s latest joke.
READ ALSO: Robin Padilla Defends Mariel Padilla Amid Recent Bashing Due To Her 2022 Vlog