DILG Probes BFP Execs Over Lavish Lifestyle

Several officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) are under investigation for allegedly having a luxurious lifestyle and owning high-end resorts, which are not commensurate with their salaries, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said on Monday, Sep. 1.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he is keeping tabs on the BFP officials who have resorts in Tagaytay City.

“They have salaries of P120,000 per month, pero may resort in Tagaytay,” he said in an interview over dzBB.

Remulla expressed doubt that the BFP officials managed to acquire the resorts worth millions of pesos only through their salaries from the government.

“Ang tingin ko, up to P100 million. Hindi nila kayang ipunin ‘yun, eh. Parang tumama sa lotto,” he said.

Remulla declined to disclose the ranks of the officials when asked by The Philippine STAR, saying he would make an announcement on the issue at the proper time.

Another corruption scheme in the BFP that Remulla flagged is the illegal sale of fire extinguishers by inspectors of the bureau, after getting a complaint from the ambassador of Italy.

He said an inspector from the Taguig City fire station went to the Italian embassy and told officials to buy a specific brand of fire extinguisher.

To prevent corrupt BFP inspectors from carrying out nefarious activities, Remulla said he would require them to wear body-worn cameras starting next year.

The DILG will purchase around 5,000 body-worn cameras so that all inspections of establishments by the BFP are recorded, he said.