Duterte as role model? We’re not saying that, Palace says

School children need not see President Rodrigo Duterte as a role model, presidential spokesman Secretary Harry Roque said on Thursday.

Roque made the remark after the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said that the Department of Education's focus on values might cause confusion among school children given Duterte's "language of killing, misogyny and vulgarity."

Asked if it would be fine for children to emulate Duterte, Roque said: "Hindi naman po natin sinasabi iyon."

"Pero nandiyan po ang mga magulang. So tingin ko po ang mga magulang talaga ang dapat na nagtuturo ng tamang conduct," Roque said.

Roque said Duterte's penchant for expletives only showed his authenticity as a person.

"Tingin ko po alam naman ng lipunan kung sino ang hinalal nilang Presidente. So tanggap po nila ang Presidente for who he is," Roque said.

Duterte in October 2016 said he told God that he would no longer use cuss words.

The tough-talking leader, however, broke his promise a few days after as he lashed out at the United States after its officials reportedly stopped the sale of 26,000 rifles to the Philippines.

The president said he was only joking when he said that he heard God tell him to stop cursing.

The DepEd has announced that it would place more focus on teaching the right values to students in light of changing environment and technologies that could influence their attitude.

However, Alliance of Concerned Teachers president Benjamin Valbuena said the policy might confuse students as "they see Duterte on national television using the language of killing, misogyny and vulgarity, and other top officials following suit as if it is a fad." —NB, GMA News