BFP may ask PAO to defend firemen charged in Glorietta blast

Admitting it does not have money for high-priced lawyers, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said Saturday it will refer its personnel charged for the Glorietta 2 blast to public attorneys. BFP director for operations Sr. Supt. Carlito Romero said they will likely ask the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) to provide lawyers for fire officials charged in the Glorietta tragedy. “We will support them but we won’t have money for high-priced lawyers (so) we’ll just facilitate legal assistance for them," Romero said in Filipino in an interview on dzRH radio. But he withheld further comment on the matter, saying the BFP has yet to receive a copy of the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police. “Our firefighters were surprised to be charged. For our part, we will give them a chance to explain their side," Romero said in the vernacular, adding that the BFP does not know if the PNP will file its case with the Interior Department, BFP, or Ombudsman. Among those charged for the Glorietta 2 blast for graft and gross neglect of duty were SFO4 Anthony Grey, Fire Safety Inspector, Makati City Fire Station; SFO2 Leonilo Balais, Fire Safety Inspector, Makati City Fire Station; and Fire Sr. Insp. Reynaldo Enoc, Fire Prevention Officer, Makati City Fire Station. Facing administrative charges as well for simple neglect of duty is Fire Chief Insp. Jose Embang Jr., City Fire Marshal of Makati City. Meanwhile, Romero said the interior department will ask lawmakers to allocate part of their pork funds to procuring much-needed equipment for government firefighters. He said the BFP already drew up its wish list, which includes breathing and thermal imaging equipment. “Ang bumbero natin talagang hirap na hirap magpatay ng sunog (Firefighters have a hard time fighting fires without the needed equipment). We are less effective without proper equipment and apparatus," Romero said. He said the firefighters’ need for self-contained breathing apparatus was evident during last week’s 30-hour fire that hit a mall in Baclaran in southern Metro Manila. Romero said many firemen die of diseases they encounter while on duty, including throat ailments, cancer of the lungs, and tuberculosis. “Kung di namamatay suddenly in the line of duty, namamatay due to lingering illness (If they don’t die in the line of duty immediately, they die due to a lingering illness)," he said. Romero said a second item on the wish list is a thermal imaging camera to help firefighters find the source of a fire. “Makikita namin ang pinagmumulan ng usok at sunog. Malaking tulong iyon (It can help us trace the source of a fire. It will be a big help)," he said. In the meantime, Romero said the BFP will engage in fire prevention efforts to urge the community to avoid fires, especially with Fire Prevention Month approaching in March. He also said the BFP will continue going after corrupt firemen who sell fire extinguishers in exchange for fire safety clearances. “They have no right to stay in the service a minute longer. So long as we can prove they engage in nefarious activity we will kick them out of the service," he said. - GMANews.TV