DILG files raps vs BFP chief Fernandez, supplier over alleged P14.7-M ambulance kickbacks

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Fire Director Jesus Fernandez and a private supplier are now facing administrative and criminal charges at the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged P14.752 kickbacks in ambulance deals, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday.

At a press conference, DILG assistant secretary for local government Atty. Jesi Howard Lanete said the charges filed are for violations of the Anti-Corrupt and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery, and malversation of public funds.

“Today we filed against BFP chief Fernandez and the supplier cases of violation of Section 3e Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Corrupt and Corrupt Practices Act. Together with that, we filed a case of direct bribery. For the acceptance of 14.752 million in documented illicit payments made from the supplier to Fernandez,” Lanete said.

“We likewise file the case of malversation of public funds for the criminal diversion and mismanagement pertaining to these 132 ambulances,” he added.

Aside from this, the DILG also asked the Office of the Ombudsman to preemptively suspend Fernandez amid the investigation.

The DILG identified the implicated supplier as Rosa Verna Sangga of Auto Zone Prime Distributors Inc.

For the side of the implicated parties, GMA News Online has reached out to Fernandez and Auto Zone Prime Distributors Inc. for their statements but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

DILG assistant secretary for legal and legislative affairs Atty. Brian Mey Tomas detailed the alleged scheme and cited a particular case involving the procurement of 132 ambulances for the bureau, which started in September 2024.

A predetermined supplier allegedly approached an automotive company to form a joint venture solely to qualify for the bidding, according to Tomas.

The supplier was authorized to represent the automotive firm and eventually won the contract.

“In November 2024, wherein the supplier met with then [Bids and Awards Committee] chairperson, Jesus Fernandez, who is now the fire director of the BFP, at a Quezon City restaurant where he was seen receiving the list of or the breakdown of the SOP and received a suitcase and a bag, which contained P6 million and P4.752 million, respectively,” Tomas said.

“And another payout made in September 2025 for P4 million. Total of P14.752 million, this is the supposed SOP money that was received by Fire chief Fernandez,” he added.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the department will file more cases in the future implicating more BFP officials and personalities for corrupt schemes.

“Part 1 pa lang ito ng charges na ifa-file namin ukol sa mga BFP officials. Sa mga susunod na araw may na-develop na rin kaming mga kaso tungkol sa bid-rigging ng pagbili ng fire trucks,” Remulla said.

(This is just part 1 of the charges we will file against  BFP officials. In the coming days, we will also develop cases regarding the bid-rigging of the purchase of fire trucks.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News