BFP names Wilberto Tiu as new officer-in-charge

Fire Chief Superintendent Wilberto Rico Neil Ang Kwan Tiu has been designated as the new officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the agency announced on Tuesday. 

This was following a memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto dated March 16, Monday. 

Recto's office also confirmed the appointment of Tiu as BFP's officer-in-charge. The appointment letter stated that Tiu's designation was to ensure the continuous and effective delivery of public service.

To recall, 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.

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 preivously 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. —with reports from Anna Felicia Bajo/ VAL, GMA Integrated News