Manila: Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced that 45 current and former officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) are set to face complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman. These officials are implicated in alleged anomalous procurement practices related to firetrucks from 2018 to 2024.
According to Philippines News Agency, those named in the complaints include former BFP chiefs Leonardo Ba±ago and Louie Puracan, suspended Fire Director Jesus Fernandez, and members of the Bids and Awards Committee, Technical Working Group, and Technical Specifications Committee. The complaints also involve two private suppliers and other individuals.
"Ngayong araw pinuputol na natin ang isang malawakang sistema ng panlalamang sa (Today we are cutting off the widespread system of corruption in the) Bureau of Fire Protection," Remulla remarked during a press briefing. This move is aligned with the government's commitment to accountability in public safety programs and follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to strengthen anti-corruption measures, particularly in high-value procurements.
The complaint alleges that the officials manipulated technical specifications to benefit two suppliers, effectively limiting competition. Additionally, it highlights a significant increase in the cost of 1,000-gallon firetrucks, which rose from PHP5.975 million in 2014 to nearly PHP15 million in 2024, with no documented market studies or justification offered.
Other alleged procurement irregularities include inadequate deliberations and record-keeping, failures by oversight bodies to independently review specifications, and ineffective pre-bid conferences. The Bureau of Customs has also identified issues with the respondent-suppliers, who are accused of undervaluing import declarations by over 30 percent and failing to submit essential financial documents during audits.
The respondents face both administrative and criminal charges, such as grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, conduct prejudicial to the service, and violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Remulla emphasized that "Hindi dapat nalalagay sa alanganin ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan dahil sa iregularidad (The lives of the people should not be jeopardized due to irregularities)." He reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that every procurement is transparent, aboveboard, and rooted in the public interest, stressing efforts to enhance internal controls and safeguards within the Department of the Interior and Local Government's attached agencies.
In light of these developments, Fire Chief Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu has been appointed as the officer-in-charge of the BFP, following Fernandez's removal. Remulla also noted that a panel has commenced interviews for candidates to fill the position of the next BFP chief, having already interviewed three candidates and with four more scheduled.
