MANILA, Philippines — More than 200 personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), including all of its regional directors, are under investigation over an alleged “slots-for-sale” scheme in which aspiring firefighters were reportedly asked to pay huge sums in exchange for positions in the agency.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is intensifying its crackdown on alleged corruption within the BFP, warning that those found responsible could face serious consequences. The investigation is part of a broader effort to clean up the agency and examine long-standing allegations involving recruitment and other transactions.
According to reports, the alleged scheme involved payments ranging from ₱100,000 to as much as ₱800,000 for a supposed slot in the BFP. Authorities stressed, however, that the investigation is ongoing and that the inclusion of officials in the probe does not by itself establish wrongdoing.
The controversy gained urgency after police arrested a BFP personnel member in Pampanga over allegations that an applicant was asked to provide an initial ₱500,000 payment. The BFP official was relieved from her post and is facing dismissal proceedings, according to agency officials. Investigators are also looking into claims that other applicants may have been recruited through the alleged scheme.
All Regional Directors Under Scrutiny
Remulla said all BFP regional directors are among those being investigated as authorities attempt to determine how widespread the alleged recruitment racket may be. Reports from multiple news organizations said more than 200 BFP officers and personnel nationwide are now under scrutiny, underscoring the scale of the investigation.
But officials have emphasized that the number of personnel under investigation should not be mistaken for the number of people found liable. The cases are still being developed, and authorities have yet to finalize the total number of alleged slot-selling incidents being examined.
Applicants allegedly connected to the scheme have also been called to cooperate with investigators. Remulla said those who provide information and help expose the operation could be treated as victims and potential witnesses, depending on the findings and circumstances of their cases.
BFP Recruitment System Faces Major Overhaul
In response to the controversy, the BFP is moving toward a more automated and electronic recruitment process. Remulla said reducing human intervention in the selection process could help limit opportunities for corruption, with applicant lists expected to be generated through the system rather than through discretionary manual selection.
BFP officer-in-charge Fire Chief Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu has also raised the possibility of working with the Civil Service Commission on additional measures to protect applicants while maintaining transparency in the recruitment process.
Part of a Wider BFP Anti-Corruption Drive
The latest “slots-for-sale” investigation comes amid a broader anti-corruption campaign inside the BFP. Earlier this year, the DILG announced plans to pursue cases against dozens of BFP officials over separate allegations involving irregularities in the procurement of fire safety equipment. Those allegations are distinct from the recruitment investigation but have intensified public scrutiny of the agency’s internal systems.
The DILG has also taken action against hundreds of fire safety personnel in Metro Manila as part of its wider review of alleged questionable practices, according to the Inquirer report.
For aspiring firefighters, the message from authorities is clear: government positions are not for sale. As investigators dig deeper into the alleged scheme, the biggest question now is how far the operation reached—and whether the sweeping probe will finally expose and dismantle the networks accused of profiting from public service.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not announced final findings or liabilities against the majority of those under scrutiny.
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