President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during the 28th Bureau of Jail Management and Penology anniversary at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on July 12, 2019. (Rey Baniquet/Presidential Photo)

President Rodrigo Duterte has dismissed the entire administrative unit of the Bureau of Customs, saying this was the only way to rid the agency of corruption.

Duterte said all 64 employees were told to report to the Palace, and joked that they would be asked to pluck out the water lilies blocking his way on Pasig River.

“I’m – it seems to be that I’m firing people almost everyday despite the fact that most of them, the majority of them, were my companions, were my friends who helped me win the mayorship in 1988 sa Davao,” he said in remarks at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

“May nagbulong sa akin. ‘Gusto mo talagang maputol ang corruption, mayor? Tanggalin mo lahat (Someone whispered to me. You want to remove corruption, mayor? Remove all of them),’” Duterte said.

The sacked Customs personnel will report to Malacañang on July 15. (PressONE.ph)