Jamaine Punzalan

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<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/17884251619771788425159561.jpeg" style="width: 960px; display: block; height: auto;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">Bureau of Fire Protection chief Director Jesus Fernandez. Bureau of Fire Protection/Facebook</span></span></span></div><div><br></div><p>MANILA &mdash; The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jesus Fernandez and filed criminal cases against him before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the procurement of 132 ambulances worth P485 million.</p><p>According to the Ombudsman investigation, Fernandez, who was then the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairperson, allegedly received some P14.7 million from a representative of the joint venture involved in the procurement. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The Ombudsman said it &ldquo;found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction&rdquo; to charge Fernandez with two counts of indirect bribery and two counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.</p><p>In a separate administrative case stemming from the same transaction, the Ombudsman found Fernandez guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and grave misconduct.</p><p>&ldquo;This carries the penalty of dismissal from the service, including cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in government service,&rdquo; the Ombudsman said.</p><p>The Ombudsman noted that the administrative decision found that Fernandez&rsquo;s receipt of the money was &ldquo;incompatible with his responsibilities as BFP chief and BAC chairperson and undermined the integrity expected of his office.&rdquo;</p><p>The decision added that &ldquo;receiving any gift, compensation, promise, or consideration from any individual in relation to his position gives the appearance of impropriety, which does not only bring doubt to his credibility but significantly tarnishes the credibility of the agency that he leads, in this case, especially in the process of procurement.&rdquo;</p><p>In March, FCSupt Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu was designated as the BFP&rsquo;s officer-in-charge after the interior department filed complaints against Fernandez.&nbsp;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/5/dilg-accuses-bureau-of-fire-protection-chief-of-bribery-scheme-in-ambulance-deal-1333">DILG accuses Bureau of Fire Protection chief of bribery scheme in ambulance deal</a></div><div><strong>&mdash; With a report from Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News&nbsp;</strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/28/200-bfp-personnel-under-probe-over-slot-for-sale-scheme-1422">200 BFP personnel under probe over &#39;slot-for-sale&#39; scheme</a></div><div><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/LjhEu7uGcy8?&wmode=opaque&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/dxqYMnYep5Q?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></div>

<p>The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jesus Fernandez and filed criminal charges against him before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the procurement of 132 ambulances worth P485 million.</p>

The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jesus Fernandez and filed criminal charges against him before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the procurement of 132 ambulances worth P485 million.

BFP chief dismissed from service, faces graft, indirect bribery raps

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BFP chief dismissed from service, faces graft, indirect bribery raps

ABS-CBN News

Published September 03, 2026 04:47 PM PHT

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Updated September 03, 2026 05:01 PM PHT

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Bureau of Fire Protection

BFP

Jesus Fernandez

Ombudsman

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