MANILA - With corruption allegations hounding the government left and right, President Rodrigo Duterte said he lost interest at work and regretted pursuing the country's highest office.

"Nawad-an ko og ganang motrabaho. Actually, nagmahay gyud ko. Nagmahay ko nidagan ko og presidente," he said in a speech Wednesday in Cagayan de Oro, where he administered the oath of office of the city's newly elected officials.

(I lost interest at work. Actually, I regretted it. I regretted running for president.)

He made the remark following last year's fiasco on a deal entered by Nayong Pilipino Foundation Inc. (NPFI) and the allegedly fraudulent purchases made at V. Luna Medical Center of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"They allowed a casino to be erected without a public bidding. Nisurop akong dugo... What's the essence of a casino inside Nayong Filipino? Nganong ibutang nimo diha? How stupid," he said.

(They allowed a casino to be erected there without a public bidding. I got so angry... What's the essence of a casino inside Nayong Filipino? Why would you put it there? How stupid.)

NPFI entered a lease contract with Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp. (LRPDC), a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s Landing International Development Ltd. to develop a $1.5-billion casino resort in Entertainment City.

Duterte sacked the NPFI board and management on Aug. 7, 2018, the same day the groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held.

Meanwhile, the President fired military officials on the anomalous transactions in the AFP worth some P1.5 million.

Authorities further discovered several irregular deals amounting to P17 million in what was described as "systemic corruption" in the military.

"Moingon mo karon nga happy ko, 'di ko mamakak. Nganong mamakak man ko? I don't have any obligation to you to tell a lie. I'm sick and tired of the system," he said.

(If you'll say that I'm happy, I would not lie. Why would I lie? I don't have any obligation to you to tell a lie. I'm sick and tired of the system.)