Davao City declares Ramon Bautista as persona non grata

MANILA, Philippines – Ramon Bautista has been declared as persona non grata in Davao City following a joke he made at the Kadayawan Festival on Saturday, August 16.

A resolution approved by the city council said Bautista was declared persona non grata to make him “understand that as a visitor he should be mindful of decency and propriety.”

It also cited an Instagram post of Bautista posing with three women. “Ito ang kabataan ngayon hihi <3 #Kadayawan #YumoloNangNaaayonSaKakayahangBumawiKinabukasan #PasisikatinKitaHijaFoundation #LikeATito,” the caption for the photo said.

The declaration came after Bautista, in an event during the Kadayawan Festival, joked: “Tama! Ang daming hipon dito sa Davao, alright.” He then asked the crowd to chant the word “hipon.”

Bautista later apologized for his joke during the event.

Hipon is a Filipino slang that refers to a person with a beautiful body but an unattractive face.

The comedian — who is also a TV host, radio DJ and author — apologized over the joke again on his Instagram account on Monday, August 18, saying he's ready to face the consequences of his actions.

“Unang una po, tinatanggap ko po na ako ay may nagawang pagkakamali sa event sa Kadayawan na ikina-offend ng mga taga Davao at iba pa po nating mga kababayan,” he said.

Bautista added, “Humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa aking nagawa. Tatanggapin ko po kung anumang maging consequence o kahihinatnan ng pagkakamaling ito. Taos puso po akong nagpapakumbaba sa pagpapaumanhin at humihingi ng kapatawaran sa inyo lahat.”

On her Instagram account on Monday, August 19, former Davao City mayor Sara Duterte said: “Ramon Bautista, if I do not tell you that you are wrong, then who will?”

“I have two small children growing up in a society where abuse, parental neglect, corruption, injustice and senseless killings are as common as candies on the store shelf,” she added. “Totoo meron mga babae na hindi desirable ang mukha at napaka seksi ng katawan, pero kelangan mo ba turuan ang mga bata kung paano mangantiyaw ng 'Hipon'? Kung sa darating na panahon magkaroon ka ng babaeng anak na ganito, don't teach her to roll with the punches of bullying, teach her to stand up and fight, teach her respect.”

Duterte further said, “Comedian ka pala, the great comedians that I know use their wit and do not toilet trash women. You have the power of influence, use it positively." 

Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte, in an interview with GMA-7's news program “24 Oras” aired Monday, August 18, hinted Bautista will be declared persona non grata.

“I'm trying to protect everybody here. When I protect everybody, it doesn't mean only the physical being. I protect their honor,” he said.