VIRAL: Bekimon mimics Duterte using gay lingo

MANILA – A video of comedian Bern Persia, more popularly known as Bekimon, impersonating President Rodrigo Duterte while using gay lingo has gone viral in less than 24 hours.

Uploaded on Facebook on Tuesday night, Persia mimicked Duterte as he called on illegal drug pushers and users to surrender to authorities and instructed various government agencies to reduce red tape.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Persia said he did not expect the video to go viral overnight.

“It is actually unplanned and unexpected that this video would go viral. I was watching the news yesterday and I saw President Duterte in one of his interviews and I thought how it would sound if we hear him talking in gay lingo,” he said.

Persia said he is overwhelmed by how netizens reacted to the impersonation because it has been a while since he posted videos on YouTube and on Facebook.

“Ngayon na lang ulit ako nakapag-trip na gumawa then nagulat ako biglang nag viral na malala. Pero medyo sanay na rin kasi this is not my first viral video naman so most definitely ready ako sa bashers, negative comments etc. Above all, I appreciate people's time because this is a minute and fifty five seconds of their lives being wasted watching me,” he said in jest.

Asked if he plans to come up with more Duterte impersonation videos, he said: “Not sure pero kung i-request ng followers ko, why not?”

As of writing, the video already has more than one million views 14 hours since it was uploaded. It has been shared more than 2,000 times and has garnered close to 10,000 comments.

A bekimon is defined as someone who is a "hard-core user" of gay language.