THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday filed administrative and criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against Jesus Fernandez, chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), over an alleged P14.752-million bribery scheme tied to the procurement of 132 ambulances for the agency, as authorities disclosed what they described as a broader pattern of corruption within the fire service. Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the complaints stemmed from a department investigation that uncovered irregularities in the procurement of 132 Type 1 Basic Life Support ambulances intended to strengthen the BFP’s emergency medical response capability. “Ambulances are meant to save lives. Public funds intended for emergency response will never be allowed to become vehicles for corruption,” Remulla said. “We will pursue the truth and ensure full accountability.” Administrative charges filed against Fernandez include grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Criminal complaints include violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as direct bribery, malversation of public funds and conspiracy. The DILG also asked the Ombudsman to place Fernandez under preventive suspension to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings while the case is under investigation. The department said it had also written to the Office of the President recommending that the official be relieved. Investigators said the procurement process that began in September 2024 was allegedly manipulated to favor a preselected supplier. Records showed the supplier entered into a joint venture with an automotive company in October 2024, allegedly to meet bidding requirements and secure control of the project. According to affidavits submitted to the DILG, Fernandez — who was then-chairman of the BFP Bids and Awards Committee — allegedly received P6 million in a suitcase and another P4.752 million in a bag during a meeting in Quezon City in November 2024. Investigators said he later received an additional P4 million in cash during another meeting in September 2025, bringing the total documented payoffs to P14.752 million. The complaints were backed by sworn testimony from a representative of the supplier describing how the “SOP” payments were computed and delivered, as well as an affidavit from the automotive company’s manager explaining how the joint venture arrangement was used to secure the contract. Remulla said the ambulance procurement case was only one part of a wider corruption problem uncovered by the department within the BFP. “This culture of corruption has to stop. The institutionalization of corruption must come to an end. I believe it has to start from the top,” he said during a media briefing in Quezon City. The DILG chief said the investigation indicated that kickbacks and manipulated procurement processes appeared to extend beyond senior leadership. “If corruption starts at the top, it trickles all the way down. From entry-level inspectors to regional directors, everyone pays to get in,” he said, adding that some applicants allegedly paid as much as P800,000 to enter the BFP and were later required to remit monthly payments tied to fire inspection operations. Remulla also disclosed that additional cases involving alleged bid-rigging in fire truck procurement were being prepared. “If you think this is big, the corruption in fire truck procurement is even larger. I was personally offered P1.5 million per truck as a cut,” he said. Meanwhile, the DILG said the selection of the next BFP chief would undergo a strict vetting process as the department moved to restore integrity within the agency. Remulla said candidates would go through seven rounds of interviews and a thorough review of their financial records, performance history and professional track record. He added that two candidates interviewed earlier in the day appeared promising for the position, with their financial and service records undergoing scrutiny. Remulla also said Fernandez would still face the cases even if he chooses to retire from government service. “The case will continue. Retirement does not absolve you from allegations or from being tried for corruption. It is not a bulletproof vest that prevents you from being charged,” he said. The DILG said a task force has also been formed to examine the financial records of current and incoming BFP officials as part of a wider effort to uncover irregularities and dismantle what Remulla described as an entrenched “ecosystem of corruption” within the agency.