MANILA, Philippines — The Division of the Inside and Native Authorities (DILG) on Thursday uncovered a tradition of corruption throughout the Bureau of Fireplace Safety (BFP), involving bribery, bid rigging, and malversation of public funds, prompting the submitting of felony and administrative costs in opposition to implicated officers and requires preventative suspension.
Talking at a media briefing, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla mentioned the corruption seems systematic, with kickbacks and manipulated procurement processes extending from high management to lower-level officers.
“This tradition of corruption has to cease. The institutionalization of corruption should come to an finish. I imagine it has to start out from the highest,” Remulla mentioned.
The primary main case entails the procurement of 132 ambulances for the BFP, which started in September 2024. Investigations revealed {that a} pre-determined provider manipulated the bidding course of by forming a three way partnership with an automotive firm to safe the contract. Fireplace Chief Jesus Fernandez, then overseeing BFP operations, allegedly obtained a complete of P10.762 million in illicit funds from the provider in three separate installments between November 2024 and September 2025, in line with affidavits and eyewitness testimony introduced throughout the briefing.
Remulla confirmed that costs have been filed with the Workplace of the Ombudsman, together with violations of Part 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, often known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery, and malversation of public funds.
“We’re assured that the knowledge gathered is ample to cost Fireplace Chief Fernandez and the provider for each administrative and felony circumstances,” he mentioned.
Remulla emphasised that atypical residents have been the first victims of the corruption, significantly middle-class enterprise house owners and professionals who depend on public companies.
“If corruption begins on the high, it trickles all the way in which down. From entry-level inspectors to regional administrators, everybody pays to get in,” he mentioned. He cited examples of candidates paying P800,000 simply to enter the BFP and month-to-month remittances tied to fireside inspections.
The DILG has requested the Ombudsman to preventatively droop Fernandez to safeguard the continuing investigation.
Remulla additionally disclosed that further circumstances involving bid rigging within the procurement of fireside vans have been below growth.
“When you suppose that is huge, the corruption in hearth truck procurement is even bigger. I used to be personally supplied P1.5 million per truck as a reduce,” he mentioned.
A job power has been shaped to scrutinize the monetary information of present and incoming BFP officers, with the intention of uncovering all irregularities.
Remulla assured that extra types of corruption throughout the company can be publicly disclosed within the coming days.
“The top sport is evident: to dismantle this ecosystem of corruption and restore integrity to the Bureau of Fireplace Safety,” he mentioned.