At least 40 current and former Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officials who served on its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) from 2005 to 2025 will face criminal complaints over alleged rigged procurement deals and other forms of corruption, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday night, Jan. 29.

DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said the department uncovered a “bid rigging” that allegedly involved “billions and billions of pesos” within the fire bureau. A full report about it will be released next week.

He disclosed that a former Quezon City fire marshal will be implicated for allegedly forcing a business establishment in Cubao to buy large volumes of fire extinguishers as a condition for compliance.

He said the official’s link to extortion was “clearly established” when one inspection required the purchase of 500 fire extinguishers and a succeeding inspection demanded another 1,500 units for the same building.

The DILG chief added that the supplier involved operated from a small and nearly empty apartment, indicating collusion among BFP insiders.

Likewise, Remulla said the DILG has also launched a broader probe to dismantle an alleged “organized crime syndicate” that had taken root in some BFP offices over time, covering recruitment, asset procurement, and the issuance of fire safety permits.

In response, the BFP said it supports Remulla’s campaign against corruption even as it reiterated that the bureau has been enforcing a strict anti-extortion drive in recruitment, promotion, and transfer processes.

The BFP said it has been implementing OPLAN SANTINDIG and has closely coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate alleged irregularities within its ranks.

Under the campaign, the bureau said several individuals have already been arrested for alleged extortion and solicitation of payments both inside and outside the agency.

The BFP said it views Remulla’s statements as a challenge to speed up its internal cleansing and modernization efforts. It reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on corruption and said offenders are penalized regardless of rank or affiliation.

The bureau also stressed its commitment to transparent and fair hiring practices, asserting that internal cleansing is ongoing and fully operational.