‘Bad role model? Big boy Duterte can defend himself’

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is “a big boy” who knows how to defend himself, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said when asked how teachers should explain to students the often profanity-laden remarks of the Chief Executive.

Speaking before “The Chiefs” aired on Monday night on Cignal TV’s One News, Briones declined to comment further when asked for her reaction to Duterte’s actions.

“This is not to defend the President because he can defend himself. He is a big boy. I don’t want to comment. He can speak for himself,” she said.

“What I discuss with him is about what we’re doing in the Department of Education and I reported that we reinstitute and strengthen GMRC (good manners and right conduct),” she added.

Earlier, Briones stressed the need to strengthen GMRC in the basic education curriculum to instill values to young Filipinos.

Malacañang, for its part, said children should not see Duterte as a role model as the task of instilling values to children lies with parents.

“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,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in an earlier press briefing.

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