Ombudsman files cases vs ex-BFP chief over P485-M ambulance project

EX-CHIEF. File photo of former Bureau of Fire Protection chief Jesus Fernandez. Bureau of Fire Protection The Ombudsman says Jesus Fernandez allegedly received a P14.7-million bribe for the said project The Office of the Ombudsman filed corruption cases against former Bureau of Fire Protection chief Jesus Fernandez for alleged irregularities in a P485.6-million ambulance procurement. Fernandez is accused of receiving P14.752 million in bribes and has been dismissed from government service, facing penalties including cancellation of government eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits. The Ombudsman emphasized that Fernandez's actions undermined the integrity of his position and the agency, as he was the chairperson of the bids and awards committee during the procurement process. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman filed corruption cases against a former Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief and dismissed him from government service over alleged irregularities in the procurement of P485.6 million worth of ambulances. The Ombudsman announced on Thursday, September 3, that it filed cases for two counts of indirect bribery and two counts of alleged violation of Section 3(b) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against former BFP chief Jesus Fernandez with the Sandiganbayan. Apart from Fernandez, the Ombudsman also said it filed two counts of corruption of public officials against joint venture representative Rosaverna Sangga, who’s involved in the procurement. The cases stemmed from a complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which probed the BFP’s procurement of 132 units of type 1 basic life support ambulances. The contract was given to Toyota Mabolo, which entered into a joint venture agreement with Autozone Prime Distributors, Inc. According to the Ombudsman, Fernandez allegedly received P14.752 million from Sangga. The BFP chief was then chairperson of the bids and awards committee (BAC). “Sangga delivered Ten Million Seven Hundred Fifty Two Thousand Pesos (Php10,752,000.00) on 21 November 2024, and Four Million Pesos (Php4,000,000.00) on 25 September 2025 to FDir. Fernandez,” the Ombudsman said. Amid the probe into Fernandez, the Marcos administration appointed Fire Chief Superintendent Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu as BFP officer-in-charge. Meanwhile, in the separate administrative case, the Ombudsman said it found the former BFP chief guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and grave misconduct. This administrative conviction carries not only the penalty of dismissal from government service against Fernandez, but also the following punishments: Cancellation of government eligibility Forfeiture of retirement benefits Perpetual disqualification from reemployment in government service According to the Ombudsman, it was found in the administrative case that Fernandez’s act of allegedly receiving money was against his duties and responsibilities as BFP chief and BAC chairperson. It added that this undermined the integrity expected from his office. “He is not merely an officer of the BFP. He is the Fire Chief of the agency. He was the BAC Chairman when he received the SOP on 21 November 2024 and the Head of the Procuring Entity when he received the second SOP on 25 September 2025,” the Ombudsman said. “Receiving any gift, compensation, promise, or consideration from any individual in relation to his position gives the appearance of impropriety, which not only [brings] doubt to his credibility but significantly tarnishes the credibility of the agency that he leads, in this case, especially in the process of procurement,” it added. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading