Jonathan Frederic De Santos

BFP Chief Jesus Fernandez. Bureau of Fire Protection Facebook page

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Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government  on Thursday exposed an alleged P14.7-million bribery scheme involving Bureau of Fire Protection chief Jesus Fernandez and in connection with the procurement of 132 ambulances for the agency.</p><p>In a press briefing, Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the charges stemmed from a department investigation that uncovered a pattern of irregularities in the procurement process. </p><p>He said Fernandez “systematically manipulated the bidding of ambulances,&quot; including manipulating suppliers &quot;and all other aspects of the procurement&quot;. The BFP chief also allegedly received more than P14 million in kickbacks.</p><p>According to the DILG, records show that the BFP procured 132 Type 1 Basic Life Support Ambulances in September 2024, which Assistant Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Brian Mey Tomas said allegedly manipulated to favor a pre-selected supplier.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:514px;height:579px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2029424847722553712&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-03-05T05%3A00%3A44.288494%3A7ed9e5e2-7917-4b75-8e1c-c4915679de54%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=744b6dd679b9ac10ce8c61abb3ea12b67990d172&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2029424847722553712"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Under the alleged scheme, the supplier approached an automotive company and proposed a joint venture arrangement meant only to qualify for the bidding process.</p><p>“Eventually, this supplier was awarded the contract for the delivery of the ambulance. And per our investigation, we have found that there was a payout made,” Tomas said.</p><p>Evidence gathered during the probe showed that the supplier entered into the joint venture with the automotive company in October 2024 solely to meet bidding requirements, which investigators believe served as a legal front to secure control of the project.</p><p>Investigative records indicate that the first alleged payout happened in November 2024, when Fernandez, then serving as chairperson of the BFP Bids and Awards Committee, met with the supplier at a restaurant in Quezon City.</p><p>During the meeting, he allegedly received P6 million in a suitcase and another P4.752 million in a bag, representing part of the so-called “SOP” or kickback money.</p><p>Authorities said another payout of P4 million in cash was allegedly made to Fernandez during a separate meeting in September 2025, bringing the total alleged kickbacks to P14.752 million.</p><p>The DILG said the information was obtained through the testimony of a witness who personally saw the preparation and turnover of the alleged kickback money to Fernandez.</p><p>Investigators also secured photographs of the withdrawn cash and an affidavit from the manager of the company involved, which will be used as evidence in the case.</p><p>On Wednesday, the DILG filed criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against Fernandez and the supplier for alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as direct bribery, malversation of public funds, and conspiracy.</p><p>Administrative charges including grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were also filed against the BFP chief.</p><p>DILG Assistant Secretary for Local Government Jesi Howard Lanete said the cases could involve other officials and employees of the BFP.</p><p>“The supplier and all BFP officials and employees involved are impleaded in this case and will be identified as soon as the DILG investigation finishes,” Lanete said.</p><p>The DILG also asked the Ombudsman to place Fernandez on preventive suspension to ensure the integrity of the proceedings.</p><p>Remulla said the complaint is only the first batch of cases that the department plans to file involving alleged corruption inside the BFP.</p><p>He also said that he was personally offered P1.5 million per fire truck as a supposed cut in BFP procurement deals, prompting him to order a deeper investigation.</p><p>“It is a culture, an ecosystem of corruption that has happened inside the BFP. Our end game is to clean up the BFP. So this is where it stops. Seryoso kami rito,” he stressed. </p><p>The DILG reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on corruption and vowed full transparency as the case proceeds before the Office of the Ombudsman.</p>

<p>The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Thursday exposed an alleged P14.7-million bribery scheme involving Bureau of Fire Protection chief Jesus Fernandez and in connection with the procurement of 132 ambulances for the agency.</p>

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Thursday exposed an alleged P14.7-million bribery scheme involving Bureau of Fire Protection chief Jesus Fernandez and in connection with the procurement of 132 ambulances for the agency.

DILG accuses Bureau of Fire Protection chief of bribery scheme in ambulance deal

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DILG accuses Bureau of Fire Protection chief of bribery scheme in ambulance deal

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 05, 2026 01:33 PM PHT

Read More:

Department of the Interior and Local Government

Bureau of Fire Protection

Jonvic Remulla

Jesus Fernandez

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