Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday disclosed that Jesus Fernandez, chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection, is set to face corruption charges along with his deputies and fire inspectors, as the Department of the Interior and Local Government moves to address what he described as systemic corruption within the agency.
In a press conference at the Quezon City Reception House on Balete Drive, which the DILG rents from the Quezon City government as the Secretary’s office, Remulla said the charges would also cover former BFP officials who served from 2014 to 2025.
"I will be filing charges against Chief of BFP Jesus Fernandez also (his) deputies (and members) Bids and Awards Committee," Remulla said.
He added that he has already recommended a replacement for Fernandez to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., noting that the Chief Executive has the appointing authority over the BFP leadership.
"Tatlo ang pinagpipilian namin. Binabackground check lahat," he said, declining to name the possible successors.
"Kasi, si Director Fernandez before becoming the Chief of BFP was head of the procuring entity. Siya ang head ng BAC (Bids and Awards Committee). So talagang alam niya lahat ng ecosystem ng corruption sa loob ng BFP," Remulla explained.
The charges, he said, include bid rigging and graft.
"The others (charges) hinihintay natin ang full report ng ating legal department and by Monday, handa na," he added.
"Lahat ng kasali sa Bids and Awards Comittee. Lahat ng naging Chief ng BFP ay kasama sa kaso," Remulla stressed.
He estimated that nearly 40 officials may be implicated over a 10-year period.
"Almost 40 (of them) kasi ten years (period) yan. Lahat sila marerelieved tatanggalin sa pwesto. Kahit retired ka kakasuhan pa rin namin," Remulla said, noting that about half of them are already retired.
"Dito sa BFP kasi cancerous ang corruption, pagpasok mo pa lang babayad ka ng P500,000. Kung wala kang pang-bayad ibabawi mo yan sa fire inspection o' saan mang kotong. So it becomes a systemic, structural, the entire organization has been affected. So it will take time bago namin maayos ito. But slowly we're getting them," Remulla said.
"Ano sila eh, dalawaput-limang taon silang ganyan nang walang pumapansin. So tingin nila sandali lang ako dito, titiisin lang nila, wala nang mangyayari. Well I mean business. Kung dalawang taon na lang natitira sa akin dito sa DILG hindi ako titigil hanggat di ko nareresolve ang problema na ito," he added.
According to the Interior Secretary, there is a P15-billion racket annually within the BFP.
"Meron yan (racket sa) extinguisher, meron yan habang ginagawa pa lang ang building, papasok na ang Bureau of Fire. Ay teka muna, kami contractor ng sprinkle system na gagamitin niyo. Double the cost. Kung hindi, hindi niyo makukuha ang clearance niyo. Imagine niyo ilan condominium ang ginawa, ilan office building sa buong Pilipinas? 100 percent tinira nila lahat yan," Remulla said.
He also claimed that a high-ranking BFP official once attempted to bribe him in connection with a fire truck acquisition program, offering P1.5 million for every unit procured.
Remulla further disclosed that even his nephew in Silang, Cavite, was allegedly required by a fire inspector to purchase a fire extinguisher from a store near the municipal hall and fire station before a fire safety clearance could be issued.