Comedian Ramon Bautista declared persona non grata in Davao City

Despite his apologies, comedian Ramon Bautista is no longer welcome in Davao City after he was declared persona non grata by the city council.

The council passed a resolution on Tuesday declaring comedian Ramon Bautista "persona non grata" for a joke he made during the Kadayawan Festival this weekend.

In the two-page of the resolution posted by Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte on Facebook, the council scored Bautista for his joke describing women of the city "hipon" and for an Instagram post of him posing with three women from Davao with the caption "Ito ang kabataan ngayon hihi #Kadayawan #PasisikatinKitaHijaFoundation."

"Hipon" is the Filipino word for shrimp. It is a pejorative term used in some circles for rating people in terms of physique and facial features, as most diners only eat the bodies of shrimps and throw away the heads.

The resolution noted that "the Women Development Code of Davao City defines Mr. Bautista's actions under other forms of sexual harassment."

It further added that "there is a need to let the world know and those that employ Mr. Bautista that he is an extremely corrupt influence to the youth and his abusive behavior should not be tolerated."

The resolution added that it would furnish copies to companies that employed Bautista as an endorser.

Bautista made the "hipon" joke on Saturday night, drawing the ire of Davao City officials who attended the event. He later made a public apology after the vice mayor spoke to him and called his attention to what was seen as an offensive joke.

Forgiven, not forgotten
 

Duterte said that while all can be forgiven if Bautista makes an apology to local officials, the city council's resolution means he can be arrested inside the city.

 

The vice mayor also said that while he has personally forgiven Bautista, there are many groups that still called for him to be declared persona non grata.

 

"Personally I have accepted his apology, but as I said it is not for me to decide," Vice Mayor Duterte said.

 

He said he received several text messages Monday from nuns and women's groups who still wanted Bautista declared persona non grata.

 

When asked what it would take for the resolution to be lifted, Duterte said Bautista could go to Davao City and talk to his father, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

 

He could also apologize anew to the people of Davao, he added.

 

The vice mayor said he is willing to help Bautista stave off arrest at the airport by fetching him.

 

"Tao rin naman tayong lahat," he said, adding Bautista has direct contact with the vice mayor's lawyer. — Joel Locsin/RSJ/JST/YA, GMA News