Article by:
Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Twelve Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officials across several regions face administrative charges over alleged irregularities within the bureau.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said four BFP officials in Eastern Visayas were involved in a slot-for-sale scheme, allegedly requiring applicants to pay up to PHP800,000 for guaranteed entry.
"Ginawang sindikato ang buong BFP. The first time we are showing conclusive proof na ang aplikante ay kailangan magbayad (the entire BFP was turned into a syndicate. For the first time we are showing conclusive proof that applicants need to pay)," Remulla said, adding that the four have been preventively suspended for 90 days.
Six officials in Northern Mindanao were also charged for approving applicants without required medical, physical and dental clearances and for failing to properly release exam results.
Remulla said preventive suspension orders will be resolved after evaluating their responses.
Two BFP personnel in Calabarzon were likewise charged over alleged irregularities in fire safety inspections.
Remulla said corruption in the BFP has grown into a PHP15-billion-a-year enterprise involving illegal recruitment, compromised inspections, forced fire extinguisher sales and refilling and alleged fees before full firefighting services.
"For the last 20 years, ganito ang sistema sa BFP, wala lang pumapansin (This is the system inside BFP, nobody is just paying attention). Enough is enough. We have to break the culture of corruption inside the BFP," he said. (PNA)
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