The Department of the Interior and Local Government has recommended the dismissal of 20 senior Bureau of Fire Protection officials over allegations of corruption and bid-rigging. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla described the BFP as the most corrupt agency under the Dilg, collecting over P15 billion annually from irregular transactions. These actions could be implemented as early as next week.
In a Tuesday, January 13 interview on DZRH, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced the Dilg's recommendation to dismiss 20 senior Bureau of Fire Protection officials amid corruption allegations. He stated that these officials are involved in bid-rigging schemes generating over P15 billion annually for the agency.
"Pinaka corrupt 'yan sa lahat ng nasa ilalim ng DILG," Remulla said, translating to "It is the most corrupt agency under the DILG." The recommendation includes the agency's chief, Jesus Fernandez, though only the president can relieve the fire chief. The department is also preparing complaints against the officials, which could be filed as early as next week.
Remulla recounted a December incident where an alleged close aide of the fire chief demanded P1.5 million per fire truck as a kickback. The corruption scheme involves BFP inspectors forcing business owners to purchase fire safety equipment from preferred suppliers at inflated prices, under threat of permit denials for noncompliance.
For instance, in Quezon City, a building owner was charged P13 million for fire extinguishers and P70 million for a sprinkler system, which Remulla described as overpriced. "Kahit hindi pa expired ang fire extinguisher, pinapapalitan pa at sa kanila pa bibilhin," he said, meaning "They require the replacement of fire extinguishers even before expiration and mandate that the new units be purchased from them." He added, "Ang pineperwisyo nila 'yung middle class, 'yung mga naghahanap-buhay," or "Their actions harm the middle class and people trying to earn a living."
These practices affect around 300,000 businesses in Metro Manila and up to 500,000 small and medium enterprises nationwide.