No need to impersonate Duterte, comedian says

Impressionist says president already doing a good job at being funny all by himself

After poking fun at Philippine leaders for three decades with his trademark lampoon acts, Willie Nepomuceno says he is saying no to spoofing President Rodrigo Duterte.

“They say comedy is just a twist from reality... I think the original is more funny — what is really happening in real life. And it’s not just him [Duterte], but the events associated with him in those occasions as well,” Nepomuceno, more popularly known as ‘Willie Nep’, was quoted as saying in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Nepomuceno said he had spoofed Duterte during the 2016 elections but he would not be doing so this time.

He said a satire with the current president as the subject will only add to the political noise and divert attention to the real issues that need to be addressed. Duterte has stirred controversy in recent days after he issued statements that ruffled feathers of the Catholic Church. The 73-year-old leader questioned certain dogmas in the Catholic faith.

Nepomuceno, a middleaged artist who remains at the top of his game despite suffering a stroke several years ago, says “impersonating someone isn’t that simple; you have to think.”

“You can’t just ridicule; there still needs to be some respect for the subject,” he said.

Nepomuceno’s first jab at spoofing presidents was his impression of the Fidel Ramos which came complete with the then leader’s trademark unlit tobacco.