CEBU CITY – An official of the Cebu City Fire Station (CCFS) was arrested for allegedly extorting money from an applicant.
BFP-7 headquarters in Cebu City. (FB)
The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) arrested Fire Insp. Roy Mat Castro in an entrapment operation inside a restaurant here on Thursday, June 27.
Chief Supt. Roberto Genave, regional director of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Central Visayas (BFP-7), confirmed that prior to the arrest, Castro was the chief of the Fire Safety Enforcement Section of the CCFS.
The entrapment operation stemmed from a complaint of a woman who applied to become Fire Safety Officer 1 before the BFP-7.
The woman, who was accompanied by an officer of the Coast Guard-Central Visayas, appeared before the NBI-7 office on Wednesday, June 26.
The complainant said it was her third time to apply for the position in BFP-7.
She alleged that Castro demanded P400,000 from her so that she will be included in the list of applicants who will take their oaths as fire safety officers.
After she passed the application process and was included in the final list for oathtaking, the applicant alleged that Castro pressured her to pay P400,000 as “pasalamat” (thank you) to higher ups.
Video provided by NBI-7 showed Castro caught on camera handing over a clutch bag to a woman who then placed a bundle of cash amounting to P200,000 inside.
The woman handed the bag back to Castro before the NBI-7 swooped in and arrested the suspect.
Genave described the actions of Castro as “grave violation of ethical standards and the integrity of public service.”
“The BFP-7 condemns any form of corruption and unethical behavior among its ranks,” Genave said in a statement.
Genave also ordered the immediate relief of Castro from his post at CCFS.
“We emphasize our commitment in combating corruption and promoting transparency in all our operations. Significantly, the arrest of Fire Insp. Roy Mat Castro is a clear manifestation of its (BFP) campaign against corruption as part of the internal cleansing of the BFP,” Genave added.
Genave said the BFP-7 will conduct its own investigation and assured that they will cooperate with the NBI-7 and other agencies “to ensure thorough investigation and swift resolution to this case.”