By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jesus Fernandez has been ordered dismissed from government service after the Office of the Ombudsman found him administratively liable over the procurement of 132 ambulances worth PHP485 million and filed criminal charges against him before the Sandiganbayan.
The Ombudsman said it found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to pursue the criminal case against Fernandez, who was charged with two counts of indirect bribery and two counts of violating Section 3(b) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The administrative case arose from the same procurement transaction, in which the Ombudsman found Fernandez guilty of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The penalties accompanying the dismissal include cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from government employment.
The cases stemmed from a complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government following a fact-finding investigation by Task Force BFP Accountability into the procurement of 132 Type 1 Basic Life Support ambulances.
According to the Ombudsman, the contract was awarded to Toyota Mabolo, which partnered with Autozone Prime Distributors Inc. through a joint venture for the project.
The joint venture’s representative, Rosaverna Sangga, was separately charged with two counts of corruption of public officials under Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code.
Investigators alleged that Fernandez received a total of PHP14.752 million from Sangga in two separate transactions.
The Ombudsman said Sangga allegedly delivered PHP10.752 million to Fernandez on Nov. 21, 2024, followed by another PHP4 million on Sept. 25, 2025.
The ruling noted that Fernandez was serving as chairperson of the Bids and Awards Committee when he allegedly received the first payment in November 2024.
By the time of the second alleged payment in September 2025, Fernandez was already head of the procuring entity, according to the Ombudsman.
The anti-graft body said the alleged receipt of money in connection with Fernandez’s official position created an appearance of impropriety and undermined public confidence in the BFP’s procurement process.
The Ombudsman stressed that accepting any gift, compensation, promise or consideration from an individual in relation to an official position could cast doubt on an official’s credibility and damage the credibility of the government agency involved in the procurement.
Fernandez’s side was not immediately available for comment. His response will be included once obtained.
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