MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday exposed a culture of corruption within the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), involving bribery, bid rigging, and malversation of public funds, prompting the filing of criminal and administrative charges against implicated officials and calls for preventative suspension.
Speaking at a media briefing, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the corruption appears systematic, with kickbacks and manipulated procurement processes extending from top leadership to lower-level officials.
“This culture of corruption has to stop. The institutionalization of corruption must come to an end. I believe it has to start from the top,” Remulla said.
The first major case involves the procurement of 132 ambulances for the BFP, which began in September 2024. Investigations revealed that a pre-determined supplier manipulated the bidding process by forming a joint venture with an automotive company to secure the contract. Fire Chief Jesus Fernandez, then overseeing BFP operations, allegedly received a total of P10.762 million in illicit payments from the supplier in three separate installments between November 2024 and September 2025, according to affidavits and eyewitness testimony presented during the briefing.
Remulla confirmed that charges have been filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, including violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery, and malversation of public funds.
“We are confident that the information gathered is sufficient to charge Fire Chief Fernandez and the supplier for both administrative and criminal cases,” he said.
Remulla emphasized that ordinary citizens were the primary victims of the corruption, particularly middle-class business owners and professionals who rely on public services.
“If corruption starts at the top, it trickles all the way down. From entry-level inspectors to regional directors, everyone pays to get in,” he said. He cited examples of applicants paying P800,000 just to enter the BFP and monthly remittances tied to fire inspections.
The DILG has requested the Ombudsman to preventatively suspend Fernandez to safeguard the ongoing investigation.
Remulla also disclosed that additional cases involving bid rigging in the procurement of fire trucks were under development.
“If you think this is big, the corruption in fire truck procurement is even larger. I was personally offered P1.5 million per truck as a cut,” he said.
A task force has been formed to scrutinize the financial records of current and incoming BFP officials, with the aim of uncovering all irregularities.
Remulla assured that more forms of corruption within the agency would be publicly disclosed in the coming days.
“The end game is clear: to dismantle this ecosystem of corruption and restore integrity to the Bureau of Fire Protection,” he said.
