(Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon's Facebook)

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon isn't offended one bit by Internet trolls' comparisons between him and "Kokey"--the iconic extraterrestrial character from the eponymous mid-90s Filipino science fiction flick.

In fact Ridon embraces it, as he habitually shares Kokey-themed Facebook posts from netizens that are obviously meant to get under his skin. He even creates his own content with Kokey's likeness.

The lawyer-legislator underlying retort to all of these attacks is therefore simple: Try again.

"Firstly, if the idea is to turn me and my work into a caricature, they picked the wrong reference because Kokey is a genuinely likeable and helpful character," Ridon told the Manila Bulletin. 

"He has innate dignity and the initiative to help his friends and others," the party-list lawmaker said, referring to the alien's penchant for befriending and helping humans.

In the 1997 movie produced by Star Cinema, Kokey goes out of his way to assist the livelihood of his earthling-hosts, primarily using his telekinesis. He also has healing powers.

Kokey was played by the late actress Noemi Tesorero, professionally known as "Mahal". Tesorero, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 47, was known for her dwarfism.

Ridon said he began to encounter the Kokey references upon his return to the House of Representatives in the current 20th Congress.

"The Kokey reference surfaced early in the term from Duterte-aligned social media pages and influencers as soon as discussions on the Dutertes began," he noted.

Ridon said these discussions were connected to former president Rodrigo Duterte's proceedings with the International Criminal Court (ICC), Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment, and inquiries into the previous administration's projects, such as the Manila Bay dolomite beach.

Ridon , a member of the House minority bloc, has been very vocal on all these issues.

"The nation’s problems are too severe to even worry about looks-based slander. It will not distract us from our current work on accountability and economic relief," he reckoned.

For now, Ridon and the rest of the House are focused on seeing the impeachment process through, and coming up with a legislative response to the fuel price crisis.

"Our detractors can call me anything they like, but the subpoenas on the Vice President’s tax and financial documents will still get served, and we will continue to find ways to ensure lower fuel prices and a stable fuel supply," he said.

Kokey also had popular TV adaptations in the 2000s.