By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — An active Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel was arrested in Pampanga after allegedly demanding P500,000 from a job applicant in exchange for an assured slot in the fire bureau, authorities said Wednesday.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Office 3 chief Col. Grant Gollod said the arrest stemmed from a report about an alleged “slots for sale” scheme targeting BFP applicants.
The female suspect was arrested during an entrapment operation on Aug. 24 at a parking area in Barangay Maimpis, San Fernando City, Pampanga.
Gollod said the suspect appeared to have targeted potential applicants by monitoring names posted on the BFP’s Facebook page and contacting them through a dummy account.
“Once the applicants were on the BFP FB page, she would randomly contact them using her dummy account. So when someone responded, the transaction would begin,” Gollod said.
The victim initially reported the alleged scheme to the BFP in Zambales. The complaint was subsequently endorsed to the CIDG, which arranged the entrapment operation.
Investigators also discovered that the suspect allegedly had accomplices. The CIDG is continuing its investigation and determining their possible participation in the scheme.
The suspect is facing robbery and extortion charges in relation to Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, while possible charges against her alleged accomplices will depend on the outcome of the investigation.
BFP spokesperson F/Supt. Anthony Arroyo said the agency is hiring only 2,504 new personnel nationwide this year, while more than 20,000 applicants have already applied.
Arroyo warned applicants against fixers and other individuals who claim they can guarantee entry into the BFP in exchange for money.
The BFP has also implemented its e-Hire recruitment system, allowing applicants to submit requirements online and monitor their application status in real time.
The system is designed to ease the financial burden on applicants while reducing opportunities for favoritism, undue influence and corruption in the recruitment process.
Arroyo said the agency continues to monitor personnel who violate recruitment rules and pursue appropriate action against erring officers.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged harassment of two female criminology interns by two police officers in Cagayan de Oro City.
The officers — a police captain and a police corporal assigned to Police Station 7 in Barangay Bulua — were disarmed and placed under the Personnel Holding and Accounting Section of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office pending investigation.
“We take these allegations seriously. The PNP will ensure that the investigation is conducted fairly, promptly, and without interference, and that appropriate administrative and criminal charges will be pursued if the allegations are substantiated,” Nartatez said.
The alleged incident occurred on Aug. 8 and involved two 21-year-old female criminology interns undergoing their internship at the police station.
Nartatez directed the Police Regional Office-10 and the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office to expedite the investigation and submit a full report.
ia/xf
