‘Doctor Isko’? Honorary title for Manila’s No. 2 pushed, panned

MANILA, Philippines—It’s a degree hotter in the Manila City Council, and it’s not because of the approaching summer.

Councilor Ali Atienza said he and five other councilors were surprised that their names were included as authors of a resolution approved last week asking the city-run Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) to confer an honorary doctorate degree on Vice Mayor Isko Moreno.

“I would’ve objected to that,” Atienza told the Inquirer Thursday. “A doctor honoris causa is (a title) given only to deserving people. And the council should not pass a resolution or ordinance that would benefit its members.”

Atienza noted Moreno was part of past councils that approved resolutions on three contentious issues: the Manila Bay reclamation project, the continued operation of the Pandacan oil depot and the sale of Century Park Hotel.

“Does he deserve a doctorate degree for doing all of those?” he said.

Moreno’s allies lashed back with a statement the same day, accusing the opposing councilors of grandstanding and premature politicking. They added that it was unfair to attribute the resolution to the vice mayor because it was initiated by the majority of the councilors.

Majority Floor Leader Marlon Lacson recalled how Moreno was belittled by critics early in his political career for lack of a college diploma, but that it did not stop him from taking up Public Administration at PLM even when he was already a member of the city council.

Moreno also took a crash course in the University of the Philippines (Local Legislation and Local Finance), and had fellowships in Harvard University (Executive Education Program) and University of Oxford (Strategic Leadership Programme).

Minority Floor Leader Manuel Zarcal said those complaining about the resolution happened to be the “top absentees” in council sessions. This prompted Atienza to say: “Excuse me, the vice mayor has more absences.”

Councilor Joel Chua came to Moreno’s defense concerning the latter’s attendance record, saying the vice mayor had also been busy as the city’s traffic czar.

“Those who claim that they were either absent or can’t recall the proceedings (on the resolution recommending the doctorate degree) could have simply manifested their reservations or withdrawal on the floor rather than through media and could have avoided putting the vice mayor in a bad light,” Chua added.

In an interview Thursday, Moreno said that while he was grateful for the recognition, he would leave the matter to his colleagues and the PLM Board of Regents.

“I don’t need titles to do my job, much less grandstand, because it’s not my habit and it’s not in my character. They should just do their job instead of politicking,” Moreno said.