Around 40 BFP personnel to face complaints over bid rigging —SILG Remulla

Complaints are set to be filed against around 40 personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) over alleged bid rigging, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Thursday.

“Malapit na namin file-an ng cases yung Bids and Awards Committee ng BFP from 2005 to 2025. Nakita na namin yung system of bid rigging nila. And it involves billions and billions of pesos,” Remulla told reporters.

(We are about to file cases against the Bids and Awards Committee of the BFP from 2005 to 2025. We have seen their system of bid rigging. And it involves billions and billions of pesos.)

“Basta lahat sila na kasama sa Bids and Awards Committee noon will be charged with bid rigging. Baka 40 siguro. The full report will be out next week,” he added.

(All those who were in the Bids and Awards Committee then will be charged with bid rigging. Maybe 40. The full report will be out next week.)

A former fire marshal in Quezon City will also be implicated, according to Remulla. The ex-Quezon City fire marshal allegedly required an establishment in Cubao to buy 1,500 fire extinguishers.

“Nakita na namin ang link na extortion niyan sa mga buildings. Sa isang building lang dyan sa Cubao, in one year, 500 ang ni-require niyang fire extinguishers. The next inspection, 1,500 naman ang ni-require na fire extinguishers,” Remulla said.

(We have already seen the link to extortion in buildings. In just one building in Cubao, in one year, they required 500 fire extinguishers. In the next inspection, they required 1,500 fire extinguishers.)

“Tapos yung supplier, parang Wawao Construction, isang maliit na apartment na walang laman. So nakikita mo talaga na may collusion doon sa loob,” he added.

(Then the supplier is like Wawao Construction, just a small apartment that is empty. So you can really see that there is collusion inside.)

The DILG has launched an investigation to dismantle an alleged “organized crime syndicate” that developed over time within certain areas of the BFP.

This covers the recruitment process, procurement of assets, and the issuance of fire safety permits, the DILG said. –NB, GMA Integrated News