An alleged pay-to-enter scheme inside the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has drawn scrutiny after Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said applicants were reportedly asked to shell out as much as ₱500,000 just to be accepted into the service.
Remulla said the BFP had become financially attractive because the cost of entry could be recouped through illegal collections once a recruit was inside the system. He described an environment where payments were normalized as part of a broader web of corruption.
“Ang BFP naging very lucrative. Para makapasok ka diyan, sa buong ecosystem ng corruption ng buong BFP, kasama ka na diyan basta pumasok ka,” he said.
The Interior Secretary linked the alleged recruitment scheme to long-running abuses tied to fire safety inspections and procurement. He estimated that illicit collections associated with BFP clearances could reach ₱15 billion annually, citing the large number of establishments nationwide that require fire inspection permits to operate.
“Lahat ‘yan hindi makakakuha ng occupancy permit kung wala silang clearance galing sa BFP at hindi sila bibigyan hanggang bumili sila ng fire extinguisher or sila ang magsu-supply sa sprinkler system habang ginagawa ‘yung building,” he said, adding that such practices may have been in place for at least two decades.
Remulla also disclosed that investigators are examining a suspected under-the-table arrangement involving a fire inspector and a real estate development along EDSA near the Araneta Complex in Quezon City. The inspector allegedly compelled developers to buy fire extinguishers worth about ₱30 million from a specific supplier, with prices reportedly marked up by as much as 200 percent.
“‘Yung fire inspector ay nakipag deal sa mga developers na sila ang magsu-supply ng mga fire extinguishers. Ito ay under the table, ito ay walang bidding, ito ay bawal sa mga fire inspectors na makipag deal pero ang lumalabas na ang supplier at ang inspector ay magkamag-anak,” Remulla said.
He said the arrangement was effectively coercive because developers could not secure a Certificate of Fire Compliance, a prerequisite for occupancy permits and the release of condominium titles, unless they agreed to the deal.
“So sapilitan ‘yan kasi paspasan ‘yan. Nagbebenta ng mga condo, hindi makakalipat ang may-ari, hindi maibigay ang certificate of condominium title kung wala ‘yung fire safety inspection permit ng BFP,” he said.
Beyond inspections, Remulla said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is preparing to file cases against at least 20 senior BFP officials over alleged bid rigging in fire truck procurement dating back 20 years. He claimed bidding requirements were repeatedly adjusted to favor a small circle of suppliers.
“‘Yung accredited suppliers noong 2010, kailangan meron kayong 10 years experience of doing business in the Philippines. Noong 2020, nung gumawa sila ng bago sa TOR nila, ginawa naman nilang 20 years. So in effect, ‘yung suppliers ng 2010 sila lang ang puwedeng supply sa 2020,” he said.
“Naging very restrictive ang bidding conditions at naging overpriced ang lahat ng fire trucks kasi in collusion ang BAC (Bids and Awards Committee) at saka ang suppliers,” he added.
Remulla also said intermediaries had approached people close to him, offering kickbacks of ₱1.5 million per fire truck, though he stressed he was never personally involved in any talks.
He confirmed that inspectors and members of the Bids and Awards Committee, particularly in Metro Manila and Quezon City, are now under investigation. He said he has submitted a recommendation regarding the relief of the BFP chief but has yet to discuss it directly with Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
To deter further abuses, the DILG has procured 14,000 body cameras for BFP inspectors nationwide, with inspection footage to be recorded and streamed to a central database.
“Pwede namin i-stream sa headquarters kung ano ang pinag-uusapan and right there and then, kung sabihin nila ito may deperensya fire extinguisher niyo, dapat sasabihin nila ‘yun. Kung wala silang makita, dapat ibigay nila kaagad ang recommendation for approval ng kanilang fire occupancy permit,” he said.
“Ifa-file ko na sa Ombudsman in due time but I want this to stop.”
