PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, June 12, admitted that he regretted his decision to pursue the country’s highest office given its seemingly insurmountable problems.

“I lost interest at work. Actually, I deeply regretted it. I regretted running for president,” he said, speaking in his native Visayan dialect in front of newly-elected local government officials in Cagayan De Oro City.

The president also warned his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, from joining the presidential race in 2022.

“That is why when people speculated Inday [would] run for president, I told her, ‘Don’t do it, Day. You will not be able to control it. They will disrespect you, those sons of bitches,’” Duterte advised.

According to the president, his enthusiasm to lead the country disappeared due to corruption in the government. He said that, while corruption is worst in the higher level of various government offices, corruption in the lower level still exists.

Duterte’s statements were born out of anger following the Nayong Pilipino fiasco last year.

“They allowed a casino to be erected without public bidding. I got so angry… What’s the essence of a casino inside Nayong Filipino? Why would you put it there? How stupid,” Duterte said.

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

The entire NPFI board and management were sacked by Duterte in August last year, during the same day the groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held.

Duterte fired military officials as well over the allegedly fraudulent purchases made at V. Luna Medical Center of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“If you ask me if I’m happy, I would not lie. Why would I lie?” the president said.

“I don’t have any obligation to you to tell a lie. I am sick and tired of the system,” he added.