DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Two of presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s children have issued a public apology over their father’s “street thug” personality but stressed that he was very capable of leading the country.

“I apologize for his behavior,” his daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio wrote on Instagram on Tuesday, adding that her dad  “does not have the finesse of Lady Diana.”

Her brother, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte also apologized, saying his father does not behave like royals do.

Duterte drew the ire of netizens after he cursed Pope Francis on national television, blaming the pontiff for his being stuck in traffic while in Manila.

Both Sara and Paolo however promised that if their dad  becomes president of the Philippines, they will do all they can to train him on good manners and right conduct, social etiquette, international diplomacy and royal protocol, realizing that as president, he would have to hobnob with the likes of Queen Elizabeth as well as presidents and prime ministers of other countries. Not to mention Pope Francis.