By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla on Wednesday said he will file corruption charges against Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Director Jesus Fernandez.
At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Remulla said he would personally file the complaints for grave misconduct and violations of the Anti-Graft Law on Thursday before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“I will lay down the predicate of how he stole hundreds of millions from the people straight to his pocket and straight to his organization,” Remulla said.
He said the complaint is the first in a series of cases to “strengthen institutions” under his watch.
Remulla also said he will charge 50 others over alleged bid-rigging in fire truck procurements from 2021 to 2025.
“It will show a very malicious attempt to create a syndicate to profit from the purchase of fire trucks in the Philippines,” he said.
Complaints will also target inspectors “who sell fire extinguishers, who harass every single business owner in this country para kumita sila (to earn),” Remulla said.
He earlier described alleged widespread corruption in the BFP as “cancerous.” (PNA)
