DILG charges BFP chief over P14-M ‘kickbacks’
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has filed a criminal complaint against Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jesus Fernandez for allegedly receiving P14.7 million in kickbacks from the “systematic manipulation” of the bureau’s bidding process.
The alleged anomaly stemmed from the bidding for the supply of 132 ambulances when Fernandez was the chair of the BFP’s bids and awards committee (BAC) in 2024, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
The complaint for direct bribery, malversation, conspiracy and violation of the antigraft law was filed on Wednesday at the Office of the Ombudsman. Fernandez is also facing an administrative case for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the service.
The BFP is one of the attached agencies of the DILG.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Interior Assistant Secretary Jesi Howard Lanete said the Ombudsman had also been asked to place Fernandez under preventive suspension to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
At the same briefing, Assistant Secretary Brian Mey Tomas identified a second respondent in the complaint: businesswoman Rosaverna Sangga of Auto Zone Prime Distributors Inc.
“These are information we have gathered from the testimony of someone who personally witnessed the preparation of the ‘SOP money’ as well as the handing of the same to Fernandez,” Tomas said.
“In all, we are confident that the information we have gathered is sufficient to charge Fernandez for administrative and criminal cases.”
Timeline
Lanete said several people connected to the BAC at the time of the procurement are also under investigation and that more BFP officials, including retired personnel, may be included in future cases.
“Retirement does not absolve you from allegations and from being tried for corruption. It’s not a bulletproof vest so that you wouldn’t be sued,” the secretary said.
“There’s restitution. Even their retirement benefits may be affected,” Lanete added.
Tomas said the complaint involved the bureau’s procurement of ambulances in September 2024. Sangga joined the bidding through a joint venture with an automotive company, and was eventually awarded the supply contract.
In November 2024, two suitcases containing P6 million and P4.7 million, respectively, were handed over to Fernandez at a Quezon City restaurant, Tomas said.
This was followed by a third suitcase containing P4 million, he added.
“The supplier herself gave the money to Fernandez,” Lanete added.
According to Tomas, investigators have secured the affidavit of the manager of the automotive company in the joint venture, detailing the alleged scheme.
There was no immediate response from Fernandez when the Inquirer sought his comment on Thursday.
Remulla said, “This is just the initial phase of the charges we will file against BFP officials. In the coming days, we will be developing cases about bid rigging in procuring fire trucks.”
“If you think this was big, what they did with the fire trucks was much larger,” the secretary said.
Remulla earlier said certain bureau officials were able to amass P15 billion annually through questionable practices, including compelling business owners to buy fire extinguishers from suppliers with ties to fire inspectors, charging fees for complete firefighting services, and demanding money from applicants seeking to enter the bidding process.
He had singled out Fernandez, accusing the fire official of sending an emissary to a close friend to offer the secretary P1.5 million in kickbacks for every fire truck sold to the BFP.
Replacement
As of Thursday, two BFP officials have been interviewed as possible replacement for Fernandez, Remulla said.
Fernandez continued to report for duty and attended the kickoff ceremony for this year’s observance of Fire Prevention Month, he said.
“I didn’t attend (the program) anymore. I might’ve punched him … I’m only saying I could’ve punched him,” Remulla said. “He makes me mad. He has some nerve. I told him that he’s corrupt, and he still had the gall to face me. He has no shame. It’s like nothing happened.”
As an added deterrence to corruption, the interior department will be requiring the BFP to livestream its bidding procedures, Remulla said.
