Duterte admits firing GSIS president, plans to dismiss Customs officials

President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that he fired former president of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Jesus Clint Aranas during the Inauguration of Chen Yi Agventures Rice Processing Complex in Alangalang, Leyte on Friday.

"Sinabi ko lang kapag nanalo ako I will deal with corruption," Duterte said.

"I am dealing with it until now. I just fired the GSIS president," he added.

The statement of the President is contrary to an earlier disclosure made by presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

Panelo said the President did not ask Aranas to resign.

"No, he did not," Panelo said at a news conference.

Aranas said he quit for personal reasons.

Meanwhile, President Duterte said he will fire officials of the Bureau of Customs.

"When I go back, I would be firing more from the Bureau of Customs," he said.

"I’m just telegraphing. Then maybe ilagay ko na sa Army talaga lahat yang - di na ako maniwala they are not allowed to work since I cannot depend on the idiots. What should I do? And if my country is sinking, you want me to follow a rule that cannot help my country?" he added. — with Virgil Lopez/BAP, GMA News