MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday defended his decision to appoint former military and police officers to key positions in government.

Speaking during the oath taking of his new appointees, Duterte said he finds it ideal to appoint former men in uniform to sensitive and crucial posts in government because they take orders seriously.

He said even his predecessors, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III, appointed former military and police officers to some government posts.

"Ako, si Gloria, PNoy, bakit kinukuha ng military sa sensitive [position]? Iyan lang mauutusan mo ng matino. Kapag sinabing gawin mo iyan, ginagawa talaga," Duterte said.

Duterte lamented some career officers have the tendency to go lazy at work.

"[He] becomes indolent, tamad at hindi nagre-report sa opisina. The other half nandoon sa mall. Sige ang tingin wala namang pera,” he said.

The Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees earlier scored Duterte for the "militarization" of the bureaucracy.

Duterte recently picked former military generals Roy Cimatu and Danny Lim as heads of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, respectively.

The President also tapped former Armed Forces chief of staff Ricardo Visaya to head the National Irrigation Administration.

Former Philippine Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon was tapped as Customs Commissioner while retired Marine General Alexander Balutan was appointed general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Former Davao City Police Chief Jaime Morente was appointed Bureau of Immigration commissioner while former Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Operations Edgar Galvante was tapped to lead the Land Transportation Office.