Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Tuesday (November 28) warned the public especially would-be Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) applicants, to undergo proper recruitment procedures and refrain from dealing with con artists who promise them non-existent jobs in exchange for a fee.

Abalos issued the warning following the arrest in an entrapment operation of Fire Officer 3 Jesson Albios Casanes, 35, a firefighter assigned in Isabela City on Monday afternoon at Purok Crossing. Bgy. Sicade, Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur.

The suspect was nabbed after receiving P400,000 cash from a victim who was applying for a job at the BFP.

“Binabalaan ko po ang publiko lalo’t higit ang mga aplikante sa BFP na mag-ingat sila sa mga manloloko na nangangako na mabibigyan sila ng trabaho sa Bureau. Dumaan po tayo sa tamang proseso sa ating paghahanap ng trabaho,” Abalos said.

Last October 24, the police arrested Fire Officer 1 Ramces Paul Benipayo, who is assigned at Muntinlupa Fire Station, after receiving P200,000 from a fellow firefighter from Western Visayas in exchange for a non-existent job promotion.

Prior to Benipayo’s arrest, Fire Officer 1 Karla Rodriguez, 29, assigned at the BFP Guiuan Fire Station in Eastern Samar was also arrested by the police in May last year, after allegedly extorting P150,000 from a female applicant.

“Paulit-ulit na lang po ang ganitong pangyayari na ginagamit ng mga sindikato ang BFP para makapanloko at makapanggantso ng mga aplikante, at iyong iba pa nga kahit nagtatrabaho na pero gusto namang makakuha ng promotion,” Abalos pointed out.

This, as Abalos commended the police, and the leadership of BFP-Region 9 for the arrest of Casanes.

“I commend the PNP and the BFP-9 for the arrest of the suspect. This will also send a strong message to the public that we do not tolerate even our personnel who engage in this kind of malpractice,” Abalos said.

Original Article at: https://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/Cops-collar-fireman-in-recruitment-for-fee-scam/NC-2023-1258