President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the 81st anniversary celebration of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) at the Gymnasium of the GSIS Financial Center in Pasay City on June 19, 2018, reiterates that he is relentless in his fight against corruption in government. Rey Baniquet, Malacanang Photo

MANILA - Malacañang on Thursday said children need not view President Rodrigo Duterte as their role model, after a teachers’ group said it would be hard to teach good manners and right conduct to students under the tough-talking Filipino leader’s administration.

The Department of Education earlier said it wants to incorporate good manners and right conduct in the curriculum of students as it launches a review of the K-12 program.

But the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said doing this would be a challenge under Duterte, who is known for his cursing and vulgar statements.

Asked whether it would be fine for children to look up to Duterte as their model, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said, “Hindi naman natin sinasabi iyon pero nand'yan ang mga magulang. Sa tingin ko po ang mga magulang talaga ang dapat nagtuturo ng tamang conduct.”

(We are not saying that it should be the case, but the parents are there. I believe the parents should be the ones teaching their children proper conduct.)

Roque also defended Duterte’s manners, saying it shows that the President is genuine, a trait he said has endeared him to many Filipinos.

“Ang Presidente hindi plastic. Tumakbo siya ganyan na siya. Ang sinabi niya, ‘huwag niyo ako asahan magbago,’” he said.

“Tingin ko alam ng lipunan kung sino ang hinalal nilang presidente. Tanggap nila ang Presidente for who he is.”

(The President is genuine. He was already like that when he ran for office. He said, ‘don’t expect me to change.’ The voters knew who they were voting for. They accepted the President for who he is.)