By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Former Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jesus Fernandez pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a graft charge before the Sandiganbayan arising from an alleged multimillion-peso bribe linked to the agency’s purchase of 132 ambulances.
Fernandez entered his plea before the Sandiganbayan Second Division, which is handling the graft case involving an alleged ₱10.752-million payment.
Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg, chair of the Second Division, asked Fernandez for his plea after the formal charge was read in court.
“Not guilty, your honor,” Fernandez replied.
The case is among two graft and two indirect bribery charges filed against Fernandez and Rosaverna Sangga over an alleged ₱14.752-million bribe connected to the BFP’s procurement of 132 ambulances valued at about ₱485 million in 2025.
Prosecutors allege that the money was delivered to Fernandez in two separate transactions.
According to the charges, Sangga allegedly handed Fernandez ₱10.752 million on Nov. 21, 2024, followed by another ₱4 million on Sept. 25, 2025.
The Second Division is specifically hearing the graft case arising from the first transaction involving the ₱10.752 million.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the court also indicated that both the prosecution and defense could be given two weeks each to present their evidence.
The Sandiganbayan scheduled the pretrial of Fernandez’s case for Sept. 29.
Fernandez was approached by reporters after the hearing but declined to give a media interview.
ia/xf
