FACT CHECK: Vice Ganda not summoned by Senate over ‘We’re under attack’ skit

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The skit on the noontime program ‘It’s Showtime’ seemingly references Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s live broadcast during the shooting incident at the Senate

Claim: The Senate will summon actor and comedian Vice Ganda for mocking Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and his sister, Senator Pia Cayetano, in a skit that seemingly references Cayetano’s live broadcast during the May 13 shooting incident at the Senate.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube channel “Anong Latest,” with 473,000 subscribers, uploaded the video on May 22. As of writing, the video has 46,867 views, 2,900 likes, and 1,096 comments. The video’s title reads, “Eto na Vice Ganda ipatawag sa Senado na? Matapos bastosin sina Sen Alan at Pia! Risa humanda.” 

(Vice Ganda will be summoned to the Senate after insulting Senator Alan and Pia. Senator Risa is getting ready.)

The video was referring to a skit from the noontime program It’s Showtime, in which Vice Ganda seemingly referenced the Cayetanos’ Facebook live broadcast during the shooting incident at the Senate on May 13. After gunshots were heard in the building, the Senate president said the upper chamber was “under attack.” 

The facts: As of writing, there is no Senate summons, resolution, or order related to Vice Ganda’s reenactment of the Cayetanos’ Facebook live broadcast. No news reports confirm the supposed summons for the comedian, and the video itself does not provide any proof for its claim, only suggesting that Vice Ganda should be made to explain for supposedly insulting the two senators. 

The skit is protected under the Bill of Rights as free speech and artistic expression. The Senate may conduct investigations “in aid of legislation,” according to Article VI, Section 21 of the 1987 Constitution. However, there is no legal justification for summoning Vice Ganda because there is no ongoing formal inquiry or official investigation into satire, entertainment, or free speech.

Mixed reactions: The skit aired during the May 20 episode of It’s Showtime during the show’s “Laro Laro Pick” segment.

After host Jhong Hilario quipped, “We’re under attack,” Vice Ganda reached for the camera and said, “We are under attack. Nananawagan kami dito (We are appealing here).” The comedian also pulled host Anne Curtis into the frame. 

While the hosts did not name names, the skit seemingly mimics Cayetano’s video, which shows Senator Pia Cayetano behind her brother, who was speaking in front of the camera.

The skit drew mixed reactions from social media users, with some reacting in amusement while others criticized the skit for supposedly making light of a serious matter.

Senate shooting incident: On May 13, chaos erupted in the Philippine Senate. Gunshots were fired in the building, where Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa had been holed up and placed under the chamber’s protective custody, evading an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. 

The Senate complex was placed on lockdown after armed individuals were reportedly seen near the building. Authorities later confirmed that no casualties were reported, and an investigation has been launched amid speculation that the shootout was staged to facilitate Dela Rosa’s escape. (READ: Senate standoff: 2 sides tell different stories)

Fact-checked: Rappler has fact-checked false claims about Vice Ganda, including made-up reports about summons supposedly issued by a regulatory board and by the Senate over a “jet ski holiday” joke:

• FACT CHECK: Vice Ganda not summoned by Senate over ‘jet ski holiday’ joke
• FACT CHECK: Vice Ganda not declared persona non grata in Davao City
• FACT CHECK: ‘MTRCB summons’ for Vice Ganda came from satire account

– Owenh Toledo/Rappler.com

Owenh Toledo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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