Ombudsman clears Bureau of Fire Protection officials of graft charges

The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed for lack of evidence the graft charges filed two years ago by an allegedly disgruntled subordinateagainst the regional director and legal officer of the Bureau of Fire Protection – National Capital Region (BFP-NCR).

In a resolution released Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman said Regional Director Chief Superintendent Santiago Laguna and Legal Office Gallo Macasinag are cleared of graft charges filed against them by Senior Inspector Eduardo Visbal, the former Chief of Fire Safety Enforcement Section (FSES) at the Makati City Fire Station.

Visbal filed the complaint in 2011 after he was relieved of his post at the Makati City Fire Station and transferred to Pateros Fire Station as a Deputy Municipal Fire Marshall and Chief. Visbal alleged that Laguna and Macasinag received bribes from a company and that they colluded to reassign him and his men because they “were not being cooperative.”

The Ombudsman, however said in its resolution that Visbal failed to prove that Laguna and Macasinag received money from the company and thus, his allegation has no basis at all.

In an interview with GMA News Online, BFP spokesperson Renato Marcial said the Ombudsman’s decision is a “vindication” for Laguna and Macasinag, whose names have been tainted by the graft charges.

“The fact na hindi na-prove yun (graft charges) is a vindication for the BFP dahil ang Ombudsman na mismo ang nagsabi na walang ginagawang ilegal sina Gen. Laguna at Macasinag at malinis talaga ang kanilang konsensya,” he said.

Marcial said Visbal may have an axe to grind against his superiors because they reassigned him after receiving complaints from some businessmen that he is allegedly involved in irregularities regarding the issuance of fire safety inspection certificates to business establishments.

The spokesperson said the BFP is mulling on taking administrative and legal action against Visbal for besmirching the reputation of Laguna and Macasinag.  - ELR, GMA News