ILOILO City – Declaring corruption a top internal security threat, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Juanito Victor Remulla singled out the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as “one of the most corrupt organizations in the country,” vowing a full-scale cleanup of the agency beginning this year and intensifying into 2026.
Remulla made the blunt assessment during a press conference at the Iloilo International Airport on January 7, saying the DILG will dismantle entrenched corrupt practices within the BFP that he said have long undermined public safety and trust.
“The BFP, in my opinion, is one of the most corrupt organizations in the country,” Remulla said. “All of that will be cleaned up.”
The DILG chief cited recurring allegations involving the sale of fire extinguishers, questionable sprinkler system contracts, and extortion tied to building inspection and permit processing.
He said these practices will be directly targeted under the reform drive.
As a key safeguard, Remulla announced the procurement of 15,000 body-worn cameras to be issued to BFP inspectors nationwide.
The cameras, he said, will record continuously during duty hours and cannot be turned off.
“If they are wearing it, it cannot be turned off. All conversations are recorded and can be accessed anytime. There will be no room for misconduct,” he said.
Beyond the BFP purge, Remulla outlined other DILG priorities for 2026, including sustained capability and contingency training for the Philippine National Police to further professionalize the force, and the nationwide rollout of a unified 911 emergency response system.
He said the upgraded 911 platform is expected to be operational in Iloilo within six to eight weeks.
The secretary reiterated earlier disclosures that corruption within the BFP allegedly runs from the rank and file up to senior officials. He said investigators uncovered schemes involving illegal recruitment, with applicants allegedly paying up to P500,000 for entry into the bureau, as well as improper inspection fees and profits from fire extinguisher sales.
Remulla said personnel found involved in corruption will face dismissal and criminal charges, stressing that restoring integrity in emergency and safety institutions is a non-negotiable priority of the administration./PN
