Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Thursday ordered a thorough and deeper probe on a fireman who was accused of being involved in a "lateral promotion for sale" scam at the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The suspect, Fire Officer 1 Ramces Paul Benipayo of the Muntinlupa Fire Station, was collared by undercover operatives on Wednesday, 25 October, in an entrapment operation shortly after receiving P200,000 from his alleged victim.

Policemen arrested Benipayo after accepting P200,000 in marked money from his classmate, a BFP firefighter from Western Visayas, whom he promised to assist in getting a promotion within the bureau in exchange for money.

Benipayo's modus is to convince his would-be victims to give him money in exchange for non-existent promotion which will allegedly be facilitated by his "contacts" in the BFP, which of course would never materialize.

"I have been briefed on the case of FO1 Benipayo and I could say that what he did was unacceptable," said Abalos.

The BFP together with the Philippine National Police is an attached agency of the DILG.

This, as Abalos also ordered a thorough probe on the case and background of Benipayo to determine if he has cohorts at the BFP who could be working with him.

Abalos' order came after BFP intelligence and investigation division director Chief Supt. Gilbert Dolot reported that three more complainants came forward and accused the suspect of also duping them using the same modus operandi.

"We will not tolerate this kind of illegal activity. That's why I've already ordered the PNP to work closely with the BFP to get to the bottom of this issue and prosecute everyone involved," Abalos pointed out.

"Walang puwang sa gobyerno natin at sa DILG or sa BFP for that matter ang mga katulad niya," he continued.

Benipayo had undergone inquest proceedings before the Muntinlupa Prosecutor's Office and was slapped with complaints for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and estafa in relation to RA 10175, also known as the cybercrime prevention law.

He is currently detained at the CIDG detention facility.

The head of the CIDG's anti-organized crime unit, Col. Reynaldo Lizardo, said Benipayo initially told them his cohort is with the BFP.

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