Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772591484891515439452_1057911516487871_7831347192194219_n_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bureau of Fire Protection chief Director Jesus Fernandez. <em>Bureau of Fire Protection/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday announced that it was set to file charges against Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Director Jesus Fernandez before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged corruption in the bureau. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/12/remulla-calls-bfp-corruption-cancerous-says-cases-may-be-filed-next-week-1550">Remulla calls BFP corruption ‘cancerous,’ says cases may be filed next week</a></div><p>DILG chief Jonvic Remulla said the complaints are set to be filed on Thursday.</p><p>“The big issue is the BFP. I will lay down the predicate of how he stole hundreds of millions from the people straight to his pocket and straight to his organization,” Remulla said. </p><p>Remulla earlier denounced the alleged widespread corruption within the BFP, describing it as “cancerous.”</p><p>The DILG chief said the complaint against Fernandez is only the first in a series of cases the department plans to pursue as part of what he described as efforts to “strengthen institutions” under his watch.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;ATTEMPT TO CREATE A SYNDICATE&#x27;</strong></div><div><strong></strong><strong><br/></strong></div><p>According to Remulla, the DILG will also file charges against around 50 other individuals over alleged bid rigging in BFP procurement projects from 2021 to 2025, particularly in the purchase of fire trucks nationwide.</p><p>“It will show a very malicious attempt to create a syndicate to profit from the purchase of fire trucks in the Philippines. And it doesn&#x27;t end there,” he said.</p><p>“We&#x27;re filing cases against inspectors who sell fire extinguishers, who harass every single business owner in this country para kumita sila,” he added.</p><p>Beyond procurement anomalies, Remulla also took aim at certain fire safety inspectors, accusing them of pressuring small business owners to purchase fire extinguishers at inflated prices in exchange for permits and clearances.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SMALL BUSINESSES VICTIMIZED</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>He alleged that some establishments were required to buy multiple fire extinguishers and undergo costly refilling annually, warning that such practices have burdened micro, small and medium enterprises.</p><p>“The single biggest victims of my department&#x27;s members&#x27; shenanigans are the middle class—tindahan, clinic maliliit na gasolinahan, lahat ng building na ‘to, lahat ng naghahanapbuhay, binubwisit ng BFP,” he said.</p><p>“This has to stop, pipigilan namin ‘to. Kawawa naman ‘yung mga tao. They sell everything at three times the price at hindi ka bibigyan ng business permit hanggang bigay mo ‘yung gusto nila,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/13/remulla-exposes-alleged-kickbacks-bid-rigging-in-bfp-1809">Remulla exposes alleged kickbacks, bid rigging in BFP</a></div><p>Remulla vowed to dismantle alleged irregularities within the bureau and hold accountable those found liable.</p><p>As of posting, the BFP has yet to issue a statement on the allegations.</p><p>Remulla added that the DILG would also continue reviewing the performance of local government units (LGUs) as part of broader reforms aimed at improving governance and strengthening public institutions.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hLNJOv6EQbQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2BY6bnch8q8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OGkRYmbyCWY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The DILG on Wednesday announced that it was set to file charges against Bureau of Fire Protection chief Director Jesus Fernandez before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged corruption in the bureau.</p>

The DILG on Wednesday announced that it was set to file charges against Bureau of Fire Protection chief Director Jesus Fernandez before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged corruption in the bureau.

DILG to file raps vs Bureau of Fire Protection chief over alleged corruption

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DILG to file raps vs Bureau of Fire Protection chief over alleged corruption

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 04, 2026 10:33 AM PHT

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Updated Mar 04, 2026 04:01 PM PHT

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