The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be conducting an all-out investigation into the alleged anomalies in the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic’’ Remulla said a special task force was already formed while initial transparency measures were implemented, including the procurement of body-worn cameras that will be used in all inspections of the BFP.

In a press briefing, Remulla mentioned that around 10,000 fire inspectors and the top BFP brass will be subjected to the probe, “One hundred percent of all fire safety inspectors (will be investigated). Around 10,000 of them."

Currently, Remulla said that formal investigations are being done on former bids and awards committee members and several other personnel from the Quezon City Fire Department and the general leadership of the BFP.

When asked about the alleged BFP kickbacks on fire extinguishers and other related equipment, Remulla admitted that it is “100 percent true."

He said the DILG has formed a special task force with around 14,000 body cameras being purchased, “several thousand of which will be attached to the mga fire inspectors.’’

“So may script na sila, sasabihin nila na ‘nandito po kami para sa fire inspection. Ito po ang puwede naming sabihin, ito po  ang puwede naming gawin (So the all will have a script, where they will relay their location for fire inspection. These are the things which we can tell, which we can do),’’ Remulla said.

The DILG chief explained that all of the said fire inspectors are equipped with body cameras, where they report what they see during the inspection.

“Sasabihin niya (fire inspector) kung ano ang nakikita nila, kung wala silang makitang violation, right there and then, kailangan ibigay na nila iyong certificate and iyong digital copy is to follow, so wala ng delay (The fire inspector will reveal what he sees, if they see no violation, right there and then, they need to issue the certificate with the digital copy soon to follow without delay),’’ he explained.

Remulla asserted that the fire inspectors should clearly, appropriately and properly inform the owner if there is a need to replace the fire extinguishers without recommending any brand as replacement. 

In a statement, the BFP insisted that it “remains committed to Republic Act (RA) 11032 or “The Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.’’

“We remind the public that our personnel are legally barred from influencing your choice of fire safety brands,’’ the BFP said.

“For any complaints relevant to the given concern, you may contact BFP E-Reklamo with the following contacts: [email protected]; or you may message 8888,’’ it added.

Further, the BFP assured that actions, including administrative relief, suspension of inspections and the coming changes, are being done to end systems that allow extortions, and any form of corruption.

The statement follows the relief of two BFP for allegedly receiving kickbacks from overpriced fire extinguishers

Earlier, Remulla alleged that “this (at the BFP) is corruption at its worst since it has become systemic.”