Vice Ganda | Image: Screengrab from YouTube/ABS-CBN

TV host-comedian Vice Ganda took a firm stance on the vital role of Philippine Congress as he urged voters to elect senatorial and congressional candidates who are knowledgeable about crafting laws that are beneficial to all, instead of those who resort to just giving money during elections.

In the March 4 episode of “It’s Showtime,” Vice Ganda led his cohosts in asking random audience members about current events. Those who would guess the correct answer would be given P2,000 cash.

One of the questions was which of the three branches of government — executive, legislative, and judiciary — is in charge of the lawmaking process. When the audience gave the right answer — legislative — Vice Ganda reminded the public that the primary responsibility of the legislative body is to create laws, not distribute financial assistance.

“Legislative—’yan ‘yung branch ng Kongreso at saka ng Senado. Ang trabaho talaga nila ay gumawa ng batas. Kaya ang dapat na iboboto natin ay ‘yung gagawa ng batas, ‘yung may alam na gawing batas, at may planong gumawa ng batas,” the host said.

(Legislative—that’s the branch of Congress and then the Senate. Their job is to make laws. So what we should vote for in Congress and the Senate are the ones who will make laws, who know how to make a law, and have plans to make a law.)

“Ang Kongreso at Senado, ang ginagawa po niyan talaga ay gumagawa ng batas—hindi nagbibigay ng ayuda, okay? ‘Yun talaga ang pangunahin nila — law-making. Kaya dapat, gagawa sila ng batas, hindi mamimigay sila ng pera,” he added.

(Congress and the Senate, what they’re really doing is making laws—not giving aid, okay? That’s really their main function—law-making. So they should, they will make laws, they will not hand out money.)

Vice Ganda’s statement came after he was named as one of the top celebrity taxpayers of 2024 during ceremonies held in Quezon City on Wednesday, March 5.

In his speech at the recent Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Quezon City Tax Campaign Kick-off, the TV host emphasized the importance of paying taxes and questioning where these taxes go.

“Karapatan natin na kumuwestiyon at magsalita at bumoses dahil pera po natin ang ginamit doon kaya lahat po tayo obligasyon natin magbayad ng buwis dahil tayo rin naman ang makikinabang dyan,” he said.

(It is our right to question and speak and raise our voices because it was our money that was used there, so we all have an obligation to pay taxes because we are also the ones who will benefit from it.)

This also comes after a beauty pageant participant of the “Sexy Babe” segment of “It’s Showtime” revealed that she was not “familiar” with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), raising concerns about the voting and education crisis in the Philippines.