A firefighter in Zamboanga del Sur is now in hot water after authorities arrested him for allegedly promising recruitment slots for aspirants to the Bureau of Fire Protection in exchange for a fee.

BFP-Zamboanga Peninsula director Fire Chief Supt. Renato Marcial on Tuesday narrated that the suspect — identified as Fire Officer 3 Jesson Casanes who is currently assigned at the Isabela City Fire Station in Basilan province — was nabbed by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detective Group-Zamboanga del Sur.

Authorities set up an entrapment operation in Purok Crossing, Barangay Sicade, Kumalarang town on Monday afternoon and following his arrest, CIDG-Zamboanga del Sur operatives seized the marked money worth P400,000 from a BFP applicant.

In line with the incident, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. warned the public and would-be BFP applicants to undergo proper recruitment procedures and refrain from dealing with con artists who promise them non-existent jobs in exchange for a fee.

"I am warning the public especially BFP applicants to beware of scammers who promise that they will be given a job at the bureau. Let's go through the correct process in our job search," Abalos said.

The successful arrest of the suspect was planned both by the PNP and the BFP under the leadership of its regional director who has been consistently advocating that hiring in the BFP does not entail any monetary consideration.

"I commend the PNP for the arrest of the suspect. This will also send a strong message to the public that we do not tolerate our personnel to engage in this kind of malpractice," Marcial said.

He also urged those who fell victim to the suspect's scam to file their complaints to the Office of the CIDG in PNP-Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Office.

Previously, police arrested Fire Officer 1 Ramces Paul Benipayo, who is assigned at Muntinlupa Fire Station, after receiving P200,000 from a fellow firefighter from Western Visayas in exchange for a non-existent job promotion.

Prior to Benipayo's arrest, Fire Officer 1 Karla Rodriguez, assigned at the BFP Guiuan Fire Station in Eastern Samar was also arrested by the police in May last year, after allegedly extorting P150,000 from a female applicant.

Meantime, Abalos commended the police and the leadership of BFP-Region 9 for the arrest of Casanes.