The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Bureau of Fire Protection Director Jesus Fernandez after finding him administratively guilty over his alleged receipt of cash from a representative of the ambulance supplier.
The Ombudsman also filed criminal cases for two counts of graft and two counts of indirect bribery charges against Fernandez before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the BFP’s ambulance procurement worth P485.6 million.
The cases stemmed from a complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) following a fact-finding investigation by Task Force BFP Accountability into the procurement of 132 units of Type 1 Basic Life Support ambulances.
The contract was awarded to Toyota Mabolo, which entered into a joint venture with Autozone Prime Distributors, Inc. for the project.
The Ombudsman alleged that Fernandez, as chair of the Bids and Awards Committee, received P14.752 million from the representative of the joint venture, Rosaverna Palairon Sangga.
Sangga was charged with two counts of Corruption of Public Officials under Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code.
“Sangga delivered Ten Million Seven Hundred Fifty-Two Thousand Pesos (Php10,752,000.00) on 21 November 2024, and Four Million Pesos (Php4,000,000.00) on 25 September 2025 to FDir. Fernandez,” the Ombudsman’s ruling stated.
In the administrative aspect of the case, the Ombudsman found Fernandez guilty of Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and Grave Misconduct.
He was ordered dismissed from service and his retirement benefits forfeited. He is also perpetually disqualified from reemployment in government service.
The Ombudsman said his receipt of the money undermined the integrity expected of his office.
“He is not merely an officer of the BFP. He is the Fire Chief of the agency. He was the BAC Chairman when he received the SOP on 21 November 2024 and the Head of the Procuring Entity when he received the second SOP on 25 September 2025,” it said.