Hilbay: Rude talk downgrades discourse, corrupts institutions
Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay noted that some high-ranking officials are following the manner of communication of Duterte, who is known for his strongly-worded and expletive-filled remarks. PCA/Released
MANILA, Philippines — The use of offensive language by President Rodrigo Duterte and his officials downgrades the level of conversation and degrades government institutions, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay said.
Hilbay stressed that the kind of language people employ affects the kind of work that they do.
“They must be able to recognize that they are holding important positions in the government and people are looking up to them. They don’t want to get down to the level of gutter language even if that might appear delectable to the public,” Hilbay said on ANC’s “Early Edition.”
The former solicitor general added: “We don’t want to talk about the affairs of the chief presidential legal counsel [or] the private opinion of the secretary of [Presidential Communications Operations Office]. Those are the kinds of things that you want to filter every time you go out in public and talk to the press or anyone else.”
He was referring to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, who have been in the news this week because of sex-related comments that some sectors found inappropriate.
READ: Ahead of EU chief's visit, Andanar drops slur vs bloc
“They are alter-egos of the president, but they are alter-egos in the sense that what they do becomes policy unless changed by the president. It doesn’t translate into a requirement that they follow the kind of language of the president,” he said.
As officials representing the chief executive, they should be sensitive regarding the language that they use, Hilbay stressed.
Andanar, Panelo’s 'jokes'
In a meeting in London with overseas Filipino workers, Andanar said officials of the EU who criticize the chief executive for the spate of killings in the country just have too much sex.
Panelo, meanwhile, told the Swiss National Public Radio and Television Southeast Asia that he was “better in bed.” The presidential legal adviser also claimed to have been told that he has been told that he "f***s like an 18-year-old."
Andanar said his remark was made in jest while Panelo said the comment was a play on words meant to make the interviewers laugh. He has also said, according to a GMA News Online report, that he meant he was better at making the bed. Being "good in bed", for many English-speaking cultures, means being good at sexual intercourse.
READ: Andanar’s EU remark a ‘distasteful, desperate’ diversion
On Wednesday, Gabriela Women’s Party condemned Andanar over the comments, saying his pronouncements are “distasteful and desperate attempt” to divert the issue of extrajudicial killings in the country.
Rep. Tom Villarin (Akbayan party-list), meanwhile, stressed that Filipinos deserve to be represented abroad better.
But Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a press briefing Thursday came to the defense of the two officials, saying Andanar and Panelo were just trying to connect with their audience.
When asked if the jokes of Andanar and Panelo were acceptable, Abella responded: “Well, I suppose the levels of acceptance differ. And, you know, the cultural landscape continues to evolve… So, if you’re asking what is acceptable, then you know, it all depends on what kinds of standards you’re asking.”
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