(UPDATE) THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), working with a special task force of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), is investigating alleged multi-billion-peso anomalies at the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Monday that criminal and administrative complaints are expected to be filed before the Office of the Ombudsman once the investigation is completed. Remulla said the inquiry was about 80 percent complete as of Jan. 15, 2026. It covered what he described as a “deep-seated” pattern of corruption that may have persisted for nearly two decades. The alleged scheme involved rigged bidding for fire safety equipment, systematic overpricing, and the forced purchase of supplies in exchange for the issuance of fire safety inspection certificates. Preliminary findings suggested that kickbacks from irregular transactions could have reached more than P15 billion annually, pointing to what Remulla called a highly organized and entrenched network operating within the bureau for years. The CIDG’s final report would form the basis of cases to be filed before the Office of the Ombudsman. An initial batch of about 20 senior BFP officials was under scrutiny, including BFP chief Jesus Fernandez. Remulla said he had recommended Fernandez’s termination in view of his alleged involvement in the anomalies, stressing that accountability would extend to both ranking officials and personnel found to have participated in or tolerated the scheme. The investigation had uncovered several concrete cases, including overpriced fire extinguishers allegedly linked to collusion between BFP personnel and favored suppliers. In one instance, investigators found that a fire inspector was related to a supplier, raising conflict-of-interest concerns. Authorities were also looking into a reported P30-million under-the-table transaction in Quezon City and complaints that business owners were compelled to buy specific equipment in order to secure fire safety inspection certificates. Remulla said the CIDG conducted background checks on the activities of BFP officials over the past five years to establish patterns of misconduct and identify those who may have benefited from or enabled the alleged irregularities. As the probe continued, the DILG had begun rolling out reforms aimed at curbing corruption within the bureau. Among these was the planned procurement of about 14,000 body cameras for fire inspectors, which would be used to record inspection activities and deter extortion and other abuses. The BFP committed to cooperate fully with investigators. Remulla said the government’s objective was not only to hold those responsible to account but also to dismantle long-standing systems that allowed corruption to thrive within the agency tasked with enforcing fire safety and protecting the public.