It is beyond argument that President Joseph “Erap” Estrada was a duly elected president of our Republic. As such, on account of, and as a matter of respect to the office and position he held, he is entitled to be called “Mr. President” and continue to be addressed His Excellency, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, for life.
This is also true to the other legitimately elected presidents, e.g., His Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos. Protocol dictates that they continue to be addressed as such, in the same vein that a general or colonel in the military, or a justice or judge in the judiciary should be addressed even upon retirement.
As a matter of further respect to the position they respectively held, their excellencies should at the least be consulted on any national security matters affecting the country.
Now, history has been made in that His Excellency, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, has been elected mayor of the city of Manila. Accordingly, and in line with the respect due to the positions held, and as a matter of protocol, His Excellency should be called/addressed as “President Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada.” By doing so, the Philippines will again stand out on the map of protocol by establishing a protocol precedent.
—EPHRAIM SALCEDO,
ephraimcuadra
salcedo@gmail.com