Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday said he has "slam dunk" graft and corruption cases 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.

In a press conference at the Quezon City Reception House (formerly Boracay Mansion at Balete Drive), rented by the DILG for Remulla's use as his office, the Secretary said they are set to file a complaint-affidavit before the Office of the Ombudsman against BFP officials whom they have found to have rigged the bidding for fire truck acquisition amounting to billions of pesos—a move that underscores the government’s firm push to enforce accountability in programs that directly affect public safety.

Remulla said the action is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to intensify anti-corruption efforts and ensure accountability across all government agencies, particularly in high-value procurements.

Named respondents include former BFP Chiefs Leonardo R. Bañago and Louie S. Puracan, as well as suspended Fire Director Jesus Fernandez, along with members of the Bids and Awards Committee, Technical Working Group, and Technical Specifications Committee involved during the procurement cycles in question. Also impleaded are private suppliers Palmer Asia Inc. and F. Cura Industries, along with other individuals who may have conspired in the alleged scheme.

According to the complaint, officials allegedly tailored technical specifications for fire trucks over several years to favor only two suppliers, effectively restricting competition. The case cites a sharp increase in the cost of 1,000-gallon fire trucks, from ₱5.975 million per unit in 2014 to nearly ₱15 million in 2024, despite the absence of any documented market study or justification.

The complaint further details serious lapses in the procurement process, including the absence of proper deliberations and official records, failure of oversight bodies to conduct an independent review of technical specifications, and pre-bid conferences that did not meaningfully address bidders’ queries or result in the issuance of required bid bulletins.

Findings from the Bureau of Customs also flagged the same suppliers for undervaluing import declarations by more than 30 percent and failing to present key financial documents during audit proceedings.

The respondents are facing both administrative and criminal charges, including grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The DILG Secretary stressed that the case goes beyond procurement violations and speaks directly to the safety of Filipino communities. “Hindi dapat nalalagay sa alanganin ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan dahil sa iregularidad. Every procurement must be aboveboard, transparent, and anchored on the public interest,” DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

Remulla likewise reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening internal controls and institutional safeguards across its attached agencies to prevent similar incidents and restore public trust in government systems.