Manila: Twelve Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officials across several regions face administrative charges over alleged irregularities within the bureau. At a press briefing on Tuesday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed that four BFP officials in Eastern Visayas were involved in a slot-for-sale scheme, allegedly requiring applicants to pay up to PHP800,000 for guaranteed entry.

According to Philippines News Agency, Remulla stated, "Ginawang sindikato ang buong BFP. The first time we are showing conclusive proof na ang aplikante ay kailangan magbayad (the entire BFP was turned into a syndicate. For the first time we are showing conclusive proof that applicants need to pay)," indicating that the four officials have been preventively suspended for 90 days.

Six officials in Northern Mindanao have also been charged for approving applicants without the required medical, physical, and dental clearances and for failing to properly release exam results. Remulla mentioned that preventive suspension orders will be resolved after evaluating their responses.

Additionally, two BFP personnel in Calabarzon were charged over alleged irregularities in fire safety inspections. Remulla highlighted that corruption within the BFP has expanded into a PHP15-billion-a-year enterprise, involving illegal recruitment, compromised inspections, forced fire extinguisher sales and refilling, and alleged fees before full firefighting services.

Remulla emphasized, "For the last 20 years, ganito ang sistema sa BFP, wala lang pumapansin (This is the system inside BFP, nobody is just paying attention). Enough is enough. We have to break the culture of corruption inside the BFP."