DILG probes BFP officials over alleged ‘slots for sale’ scheme

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August 28, 2026 | 2:05pm

MANILA, Philippines — All former and current regional directors of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) are under investigation as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) cracks down on the alleged widespread "slots for sale" extortion scheme within the fire agency.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Friday, August 28, that more than 200 fire personnel nationwide are under investigation for alleged involvement in what he described as a long-standing “cancer” in the BFP.

“The BFP has become a criminal syndicate instead of a law enforcement and a first responder,” Remulla said.

Remulla’s warning

The "slots for sale" scheme was previously uncovered by the DILG in February this year, in which some officials allegedly required BFP applicants to pay hundreds of thousands of pesos in exchange for guaranteed promotion or acceptance.

Remulla said those involved typically require payments ranging from P100,000 to P800,000.

“Binabalaan ko na ang lahat ng opisyal ng BFP. Lumabas na kayo ngayon at umamin kayo o hahabulin namin kayo hanggang matapos ang career n’yo,” Remulla warned.

(I am warning all the BFP officials. Come out and confess or we will come after you until the end of your careers.)

Remulla stressed that not all regional directors are restricted from their duties during the investigation, but only those who are proven to have links to corruption.

Crackdown

Remulla’s warning came following the arrest of a female BFP personnel earlier this week during an entrapment operation in San Fernando City, Pampanga, after an applicant made a report to the authorities.

The suspect, who was identified as a 32-year-old active Senior Fire Officer 1, allegedly used a dummy account to contact an aspiring Fire Officer 1 and demanded P500,000 in exchange for a guaranteed slot.

She was arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on August 24 while receiving the partial payment of P300,000 from the complainant. She is currently under the custody of the CIDG.

The CIDG said a criminal complaint for robbery-extortion in relation to Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, was filed against the suspect before the San Fernando City prosecutors on August 26.

The involved senior officer, who was identified as Deputy Regional Director for Administration in Region 4A, has also been relieved of his post.

“Hindi lang po matatapos ito dito. We are going after the entire institution, all the rotten eggs,” Remulla said.

(This will not end here, we are going after the entire institution, all the rotten eggs)

BFP Officer-in-Charge Wilberto Kwan Tiu stressed in the same press briefing that the BFP will not require any payment from its applicants.

“Inuulit ko po, walang bayad ang pagpasok sa aming ahensya. Libre po ito,” Kwan Tiu said.

(I repeat, there’s no payment required to join our agency. This is free)

‘Syndicates’

Kwan Tiu said they have since implemented electronic hiring systems to address the slots for sale scheme.

He, however, admitted that as the agency’s systems evolve, the modus of those involved in the scheme also adapts.

Remulla, meanwhile, said the CIDG has already subpoenaed the fire officers who were identified as beneficiaries of the slots for sale scheme as part of the further investigation.

“They can either testify kung ano ang nangyari, or we can charge them because we already saw conclusive links na nagbayad sila,” Remulla said.

Remulla added that those who testify may be given clemency and can continue their service, as long as they will “spill all the beans”. Otherwise, they will be dismissed.

When asked if he can eradicate the corruption issue in the BFP under his term, Remulla said the DILG will remove the "syndicates" within six months.

“Sa PNP tinanggal na natin lahat ng sindikato. Within the BFP matatanggal ko rin lahat ng sindikatong ito,” Remulla said.

(We have already removed all the syndicates from the PNP. I will also remove all these syndicates from the BFP.)