Manila: More than 200 personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), including all regional directors, are under investigation over the alleged 'slots for sale' scheme involving BFP recruitment, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday. In a press briefing held at Camp Crame, Remulla warned BFP personnel not to be involved further in criminal acts, such as racketeering schemes in recruitment and promotion inside the organization, as they will face the full extent of the law.

According to Philippines News Agency, Remulla issued a stern warning to all BFP officials, urging them to come forward and confess their misdeeds or face career-ending consequences. He emphasized that those proven to have links to the scheme will be relieved of their posts. Remulla stated, "If the start of your career is marked with corruption, then there will be corruption throughout your career. So, we'll clean it up. This will be a massive purge."

The BFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are still in the process of determining the exact number of 'slot-selling' cases under investigation. The crackdown follows a recent police operation in Pampanga, where a Senior Fire Officer (SFO) 1 assigned to the BFP - National Capital Region (NCR) was arrested for allegedly recruiting an applicant for a position in the BFP-Central Luzon in exchange for PHP500,000.

In the same press briefing, BFP officer in charge, Fire Chief Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu, confirmed that the implicated personnel had been relieved of her post and is now facing dismissal proceedings. He also mentioned the arrest of another SFO 1 in the Ilocos Region, who had recently been dismissed by the agency, but did not provide further details.