Sometimes, people just can’t take a joke. On March 15, during his stand-up comedy performance at Mayari Restaurant in Pampanga, comedian Gold Dagal was approached by an unidentified assailant from the audience and shot multiple times. Although the comedian was rushed to Angeles University Foundation Medical Center, he passed away nine hours later.
“Someone shot my only son in the face,” wrote Jocelyn Cruz, Dagal’s mother, in a Facebook post announcing his death. “Doctors tried to revive him each time he would have cardiac arrest, which happened more than 10x.”
While the investigation into Dagal’s death is still ongoing, fans speculate that the comedian may have been targeted by those who took offense to his more political jokes. Known for tackling a wide range of sensitive topics, Dagal often made jokes about human rights violators and religious groups, including the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC). In 2023, one of his INC jokes went viral, sparking outrage and indignation among the group’s members.
The joke itself starts simple enough. Dagal opens by talking about his INC girlfriend and takes aim at the number of airconditioners in an INC church as an indicator of the group’s wealth. But then Dagal enters raunchier territory, quipping that the gaze of a poster with INC minister Eduardo Manalo makes it difficult for the comedian to masturbate. Dagal ends his bit by joking about using the INC honorific “Kapatid” in the bedroom with his girlfriend (“Sarap mo, kapatid!”).
In the video, the joke seems to go over well with Dagal’s audience. However, online comments on reposted versions of the video reveal that some Filipinos were less than pleased with Dagal’s INC remarks. “Dapat kasi rumespeto sa pnnmpalataya ng iba dami nmng topic eh,” wrote one YouTube user, “bat nmn tungkol p sa INC wala nmn sila ginagawang masama sayo yan tuloy bangkay k n.”
“Tawa kayo ngayon hanggat may ottawa pa po,” wrote another YouTube commenter. “Kayo kapalit po ngan walang hanggang pag luha sa pang babastus nyo Diyos nalang bahala sa mga taong katulad nyo.”
As a result of his more provocative humor, Dagal had reportedly been receiving numerous death threats, with his mother even suggesting that his jokes possibly led to a “hired killer” being sent after him. “I know those he offended with his jokes during one of his stints in his stand-up comedy shows had planned to end his life like how they constantly threatened,” wrote Cruz. “He got the ire of these ‘unthinkers’ with one of his private performances. It was supposed to be for matured [sic] and smart audiences who paid to be entertained.”
Butt Hurt
Filipino comedians have long experimented with using humor to swing big at powerful figures and institutions. Actor and comic Jon Santos, for example, has built a career out of impersonating politicians such as former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and late former Senator Miriam Santiago. “Tingnan natin kung puwede akong mag-Digong jokes noong Mayo 12. Kung sa 13 buhay pa ako, ibig sabihin okay lang.” Santos joked at the start of his 2019 satirical live act, I Can DOTHIRTY! Da Jon Santos Thirtieth Anniversary Show, where the comic impersonated former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Another example is comedian Jun Sabayton, who ran a satirical campaign during the 2016 presidential elections. Running under the fake party BAYAW — Bagong Alyansang Ayaw sa Walanghiya, or New Alliance Against Assholes — Sabayton poked fun at election culture and running politicians. As a result, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself called on Sabayton to stop impersonating “serious” politicians. Sabayton has also reportedly received multiple death threats due to his comedy.
Dagal, along with the many Filipino comedians who use their platforms to poke fun at powerful institutions, run the risk of offending the public with their personal commentary. When their comments fail to sit well with audiences, the consequences can be severe.
The Philippines’ relationship with freedom of speech is complex and conflicted. In non-government organization Human Rights Watch’s 2025 World Report, the Philippines remains one of the deadliest countries in the world for those exercising their right to free expression, particularly journalists. Those who do choose to speak out are often met with severe repercussions, including red-tagging, forced disappearance, or becoming targets of physical violence.
Dagal’s tragic death highlights the dangerous intersection of free speech and societal tensions in the country. For comedians like Dagal, who used his platform to address sensitive topics, the consequences of speaking out can be deadly.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated on March 19, 2025, to add crucial context regarding Dagal’s March 15 performance. The original version did not include specific details about his joke or examples of other comedians who have similarly targeted high-profile figures. These details have now been incorporated for clarity and accuracy.
