Children don’t have to see President Rodrigo Duterte as a good role model, Malacañang said as it pointed out that instilling values among minors was a duty best performed by the parents themselves.

According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the Filipino people have accepted the PResident for who he is, including his vulgar language and off-color sense of humor.

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“The public seems to have accepted that, so if that’s against good conduct — well if that’s the people’s verdict, but we know that the President is not plastic,” he said on Thursday.

GMRC revival

Roque was asked if it was OK for Filipino children to look up to the tough-talking President as a role model.

“We’re not saying that, but the parents are there and they should be the ones teaching good conduct.”

He made the remarks also in reaction to a statement from the Alliance of Concerned Teachers that the proposed revival of school subjects promoting good manners and right conduct (GMRC) would be a challenge under the Prsident.

Earlier this week, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the agency had set a review of the 2-year-old curriculum in all grade levels under the K to 12 program, and that it was considering the addition of GMRC lessons.

He warned voters

Roque defended the President’s behavior, pointing out that the President ran in the May 2016 elections with the warning to the public that he would not change the way he was.

“He ran as himself — and said we shouldn’t expect him to change. So I think society knows who it elected as President, and they accept the President for who he is,” he said.

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He added that parents should not leave it to other people to serve as role models for their children.

“I think children are the ones who should teach good conduct to their children. In [raising] my children, I don’t leave it to the teachers. I am active in their values formation,” Roque added.

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