Photo credit: BFP

A corruption scandal has rocked the Bureau of Fire Protection, with the Department of the Interior and Local Government filing both administrative and criminal complaints against BFP Director Jesus Fernandez over an alleged ₱14.752-million kickback scheme. The alleged scheme is tied to the procurement of 132 Type 1 Basic Life Support ambulances, which were meant to strengthen the agency’s emergency medical response capabilities.

DILG Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla emphasized that public funds intended for lifesaving services must never be misused. “Ambulances are meant to save lives. Public funds intended for emergency response will never be allowed to become vehicles for corruption,” he said, vowing that the Department will pursue the truth and ensure full accountability.

The complaints filed against Fernandez include administrative charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Criminal charges accuse him of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery, malversation of public funds, and conspiracy. Other government officials and private individuals linked to the procurement transaction have also been implicated. The DILG has requested that the Office of the Ombudsman place Fernandez under preventive suspension to protect the integrity of the investigation.

According to records, the September 2024 procurement of the 132 ambulances was allegedly manipulated to favor a pre-selected supplier. Investigators found that the supplier formed a joint venture with an automotive company in October 2024, apparently just to meet bidding requirements. The arrangement is believed to have served as a legal front to secure control of the project.

Evidence suggests that during a November 2024 meeting in Quezon City, Fernandez, then chair of the BFP Bids and Awards Committee, allegedly received six million pesos in a suitcase and another 4.752 million pesos in a bag. In a separate meeting in September 2025, he allegedly received an additional four million pesos, bringing the total documented payoffs to 14.752 million pesos. Sworn testimonies from the supplier’s representative and an affidavit from the automotive company’s manager detailed how the payments were computed, delivered, and how the joint venture was used to secure the contract.

Secretary Remulla stressed that the case demonstrates the Department’s commitment to rooting out corruption in public service. “There is no room in government for anyone who treats public funds as personal profit,” he said. The DILG reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and assured the public that full transparency will be maintained as the case proceeds before the Office of the Ombudsman.