Comelec execs dropping honorable title

MANILA, Philippines – Officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will drop the title “Honorable” in response to the call of President Duterte that Cabinet members and heads of government agencies be addressed as “Secretary.”

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said yesterday he proposed the creation of a memorandum circular dropping the use of the term Honorable.

“We will adopt the memorandum of the President, so that we will not anymore be called ‘Honorable,’” Bautista said.

“We have a lot of documents at the Comelec addressed to the ‘Honorable Commissioner’ or ‘Honorable Chairman.’ We should do away with that practice,” he added.

The President has ordered all government offices not to refer to him as “His Excellency” in official communications submitted to his office.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea conveyed Duterte’s directive to all departments, bureaus, Cabinet members and other heads of agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions and other government offices.