Some jokes are just not meant to be said.
Congressperson John Bertiz apologized today for a joke he said on Tuesday during the mass oath-taking ceremony of engineers who just passed the Philippine Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) board exams.
The joke? Bertiz, who was there as a representative of Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, said those who don’t know who Go will not be given their PRC license.
His excuse for making the joke? He said he was inspired by stand-up comedies.
Seriously, these are the kind of politicians the Philippines has.
Bertiz’s jest at the event became public when one of the guests caught his speech on camera and posted it on Twitter yesterday. Unfortunately for the congressperson, the post has gone viral and has been retweeted more than 4,200 times.
DURING THE OATH TAKING & INDUCTION CEREMONIES
“Kilala niyo na si Sec Bong Go?”
“Hindi!!!”
“Oh ‘wag na nating ituloy to….yung hindi nakakakilala kay BG walang PRC license”
EXCUSE ME TEH??? IKAW BA NAG-EXAM, IKAW BA NAGHIRAP??? WALA KAYONG KARAPATANG IPAGKAIT LISENSYA NAMIN!! pic.twitter.com/ORh3rG6jtb
— Leslie (@leslieohoh) September 25, 2018
In the video, he says in Filipino: “I keep saying Bong Go. Do you know who I’m talking about?”
A few attendees answer: “No.”
Bertiz says: “Let’s not give them their license. I repeat, those who don’t know Secretary Bong Go is will not be given their PRC license later.”
His quip was met with protesting, with some people even grumbling and booing, but Bertiz insisted and said again: “Who knows Secretary Bong Go?”
A man who often appears with President Rodrigo Duterte, Go has plans of running for Senate next year. His campaign materials are seen almost everywhere.
It’s not an exaggeration. He was featured in a rap video, his image appeared on cell phones distributed at a Malacañang Palace event, and the staff at a popular gym in Pasig announced their support for him on Facebook.
Yet there are a lot of people who dislike Go. This may explain why countless netizens were not amused by Bertiz’s joke — aside from the fact that it was not done in good taste.
He explained today in a statement: “I was asked to represent SAP [Special Assistant to the President] Bong Go in that event. Him being the special guest and keynote speaker, I assumed that the audience knows him, especially that his name was largely printed on the tarpaulin in front of the stage.”
He apologized for the joke and said: “It was meant to be a joke and was never intended to offend or degrade anyone.”
But he also came up with this lame excuse: “It’s like when you’re watching a stand-up comedian. I just cracked the joke that ‘Whoever doesn’t clap their hands, will be dead.’ So it’s the same thing.”
Sir, you should have just said sorry and left it at that.
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