City dads: Drop the “honorable”

Officials of the Mandaue City Council will drop the title "Honorable" in all their official communications as they adopt the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to drop the title "His Excellency" when addressing him.

In yesterday's session, the council approved Resolution No. 44-2016 authored by Councilor Carmelino Del Mar Jr. stating that members of the City Council will be addressed as "councilor" and not as "honorable."

According to Del Mar, the word "honorable" is the honorific title used in addressing city councilors in all official communications. But dropping the title "honorable" is more than honorable, he added.

"Beneath the surface of this everyday honorific lies a linguistic glitch that has spawned social havoc, encourage less ceremonial communications and shunned traditions," Del Mar said. The resolution only covers the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Mayor Luigi Quisumbing was not available for his comment.

It can be recalled that last month, President Duterte ordered all government offices not to refer him as "His Excellency" in official communications submitted to his office.

Based on the order signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the president shall be addressed in all official communications, events or materials as President Rodrigo Roa Duterte only, and without the term His Excellency.

Lao/NSA