Duterte: I fired so many friends

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said anew that he regrets running for president of the country because he had to fire so many friends whom he found involved in alleged irregularities in government.

"I regret running for the presidency and winning. Lately, ganun na ang salita ko because I have fired so many of my friends who supported me in 1988 to become mayor," he said during his speech at the 72nd anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force.

He added that these were the same friends who had helped him in the presidential elections.

"As payback time I gave them positions. Ang masakit, what was painful was that they were the ones urging me to run. I did not want to run. I do not need it," Duterte said.

Duterte previously said he lost his enthusiasm to work because of corruption in the government.

He pointed out that corruption in the government has to end so that the country may prosper.

"Even if you give me five terms and the system remains, and the practice of corruption which is already embedded in all of the government structures, every table there, basta dadaan ang papel, mayroon talagang kalokohan," he said.

He also urged the judges to "stop the practice of issuing injunctions" especially in criminal cases, in exchange for bribe money.

Further, Duterte acknowledged that there may come a point when the state security forces would not be able to take the corrupted system anymore and resort to a possible overthrow of the existing government.

"I know that the Armed Forces and the police will have to decide one day, somehow. Do not do it, please, during my term," he said.

"I told you before, all you have to do kung ayaw ninyo ako, do not bring your weapons... just call me and we'll have coffee and I am ready to say 'It's yours,'" he added.

Duterte also mentioned that he believes in God and that his Maker designed him to be a simple man.

"If there's one thing that I believe, I believe in God but that God must not be the one that other people would like to picture him. My god is compassionate, understanding, and all," he said.

"And my God, the One who created me just said 'You just stay simple,'" he added. —LDF, GMA News