BFP personnel arrested in Pampanga over alleged 'slots for sale' recruitment scheme

A Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel was arrested in an operation in San Fernando City, Pampanga for allegedly offering a slot in the agency’s recruitment process in exchange for money.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said the operation was conducted at about 7:15 p.m. on August 24, 2026 in a parking area of a food chain in Barangay Maimpis.

The arrested suspect holds the designation of Senior Fire Officer 1 assigned to District 3 of the BFP in Metro Manila.

CIDG Region 3 chief Police Colonel Grant Gollod said the probe stemmed from a report by an aspiring BFP applicant who claimed that the suspect was offering a guaranteed slot in the BFP in exchange for P500,000.

“Doon sa naunang apat, according to her, was tig-P100,000 ang nakuha niya. Pero itong panglima, ang asking niya rito was 500,000,” he said.

(The first four, according to her, were each worth P100,000. But for the fifth one, her asking price was P500,000.)

Investigators said the suspect allegedly used a dummy Facebook Messenger account to contact applicants whose names had been posted on BFP social media pages.

During an initial meeting with the complainant in Pasay City on August 23, the suspect allegedly presented her BFP identification card and discussed the supposed “slots for sale” scheme.

The suspect allegedly told the complainant that she had dealt with applicants from other areas.

The investigators also said the suspect initially demanded P500,000 and instructed the complainant to hand over the full amount on August 24. The complainant, however, negotiated a P300,000 initial payment.

The suspect was allegedly caught while receiving the marked money from the applicant. Authorities also recovered the cellphone allegedly used in the transaction.

According to the police, the suspect allegedly admitted that she had been involved in the scheme since last year and that the Pampanga transaction was her fifth.

The CIDG also said the suspect mentioned a senior fire commissioned officer who may have been involved in the recruitment process. However, authorities have not identified the officer, citing an ongoing case build-up.

BFP spokesperson Fire Superintendent Anthony Arroyo said the arrested suspect will be relieved from post and face an administrative case.

“Actually na-endorse na kahapon sa BFP National Capital Region kasi doon po siya na-assign.At kapag nag-formally charge na po, magkaroon na siya ng paglilitis or hearing officer namin,” Arroyo said in a phone interview with reporters.

(Actually, he was endorsed yesterday at the BFP National Capital Region because that's where he was assigned. And when he's formally charged, he'll have our trial or hearing officer.)

“Then, based sa recommendation ng magiging resolution ng hearing officer, halimbawa, dismissed from the service, i-recommend sa regional director. So, yun po yung disciplinary officer to do the dismissal order,” he added. — BAP, GMA News

Arroyo said the BFP is investigating the possibility that a higher-ranking official may have been involved in the scheme.

Photos: CIDG