Vice Ganda, ‘It’s Showtime’ hosts take a jab at Robin Padilla

“It’s Showtime” hosts Vice Ganda and Vhong Navarro took a jab at actor-politician Robin Padilla with a joke that appeared to allude to the claim of his wife, Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, that he was able to pass a law while in jail.

The exchange started when Vice compared Vhong’s outfit—a tan-colored tailored vest over denim jeans—to the look Senator Padilla wore in the 1991 film “Maging Sino Ka Man,” which starred Padilla and Sharon Cuneta.

“Hiniram mo pa iyong costume ni Robin Padilla sa ‘Maging Sino Ka Man’ with Sharon,” Vice told Vhong. “Syempre, tol! Dapat ganon tayo,” Vhong replied, imitating Padilla's manner of talking. Jhong Hilario joined the banter, telling Vhong, “Kantahan mo.”

Vhong then played along, singing a song from the movie. Vice then delivered the punchline: “Magaling talaga ito. Idol ko ito eh. Nakakapagpasa ng batas sa Bilibid.”

The punchline was met with laughter from the show’s other hosts and the studio audience.

The skit came amid the online controversy surrounding a 2022 vlog featuring Mariel that resurfaced earlier this month. At the time, she was defending her husband against questions about his qualifications as a senatororial candidate.

Mariel discussed Padilla’s background, including his criminology studies and his time in prison before entering politics. She also said that during his incarceration, he was given significant responsibilities by the Philippine Army and was placed in charge of Communication and Strategic Planning.

She then made the statement that drew attention online: “Si Robin nung nasa Bilibid (New Bilibid Prison), nakapagpasa na ng batas, without even being a senator,” Mariel said in the resurfaced vlog.

The remark prompted criticism, with some questioning how Padilla could have passed legislation when he was not a member of the Senate.

In a Facebook post on August 9, Mariel noted that the vlog had been recorded in 2022, a time when Padilla’s qualifications were being questioned.

“Common sense is most uncommon. Siyempre, you have to be a legislator to actually make and pass a law. Ang sinasabi nila, ‘Walang tinapos na pag-aaral. Marunong ba ’yan gumawa ng batas? Eh ’yan ang trabaho ng senador,’” she remarked.

Mariel said she was addressing that argument by pointing to Padilla’s experience with the law while he was incarcerated.

“So I corrected the point they were trying to make. 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.”

Padilla was convicted of illegal possession of firearms in 1994, and RA 8294 later affected the legal consequences of his case. However, the law was not authored or sponsored by Padilla. It was enacted in 1997, long before he became a senator in 2022.

Mariel further explained that the legislation was, in fact, drafted and passed by legislators. “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 stressed that she never meant to say Padilla literally sat in Congress, authored the measure, or voted for its passage while he was in prison.

“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,” parts of her caption read.

Vice and Padilla previously worked together as co-judges on the reality competition show “Pilipinas Got Talent,” alongside Angel Locsin.