DILG to file complaints vs 45 BFP officials over ‘anomalous’ fire truck deal

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday said that it would file a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against 45 current and former officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) over the alleged anomalous procurement of fire trucks from 2018 to 2024. 

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla made the announcement in a press conference, saying that the move was in line with the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Ang kaligtasan ng publiko ay hindi negosyo. Ngayong araw, pinuputol na natin ang isang malawakang sistema ng panlalamang sa Bureau of Fire Protection,” Remulla said. 

(Public safety is not a business. Today, we are cutting a massive system of corruption in the Bureau of Fire Protection.) 

The DILG chief said that among those who will be facing complaints before the Ombudsman are former BFP directors Leonardo Bañago and Louie Puracan, as well as suspended fire director Jesus Fernandez.

He said that members of the bids and awards committee, and suppliers will also be included. 

Remulla said that raps for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act will be filed against those involved. 

“Ang natuklasan ng ating imbestigasyon ay hindi simpleng kapabayaan. Ito ay korupsyon. Ginamit ang mga pre-signed technical specifications. Walang tunay na deliberasyon. Binaluktot ang mga standards, bidding rules para paburan ang ilang kumpanya,” Remulla said. 

(Based on our investigation, what happened was not simple negligence. It was corruption. Pre-signed technical specifications were used. There was no real deliberation. Standards and bidding rules were twisted to favor certain companies.) 

Citing the Bureau of Customs, Remulla said some suppliers allegedly undervalued import declarations by more than 30%. 

He said that in 2014, a 1,000 gallon fire truck cost P5.97 million, but the procurement of a unit soared by 250% in 2024, amounting to almost P15 million.

“Hindi inflation ang nagpataas ng presyo ng mga fire trucks, [kundi] korupsyon,” he emphasized. 

(It wasn't inflation that increased the price of fire trucks, but corruption.)

The bidding process was also purportedly manipulated to favor two suppliers that bagged multi-billion-peso contracts, according to the DILG. 

“Even before the bidding, they already had suppliers in mind,” said DILG Assistant Secretary Brian Mey Tomas. 

“There are other badges of fraud including the suspicious absence of records of the deliberations of the Bids and Awards Committee,” explained Assistant Secretary Jesi Howard Lanete.

Remulla ordered the investigation into the irregularities in the BFP following an alleged attempt by former fire chief Fernandez to offer him P1.5-million kickback per unit for the acquisition of 200 firetrucks. 

The bribe offer was allegedly coursed through Remulla’s friend at a party in Cavite in January this year. 

To recall, Fernandez and a private supplier are also facing administrative and criminal charges at the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged P14.752 kickbacks in ambulance deals.

On March 16, Fernandez was replaced by Chief Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Ang Kwan Tiu as officer-in-charge of the BFP.—with a report from Jun Veneracion/VAL/AOL, GMA Integrated News