The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has filed formal administrative charges against twelve officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection in connection with alleged recruitment corruption and inspection irregularities, signaling an intensified crackdown on misconduct within the agency.

In BFP Region VIII, four former senior officials were charged for their alleged involvement in a slot-for-sale scheme during the 2025 Fire Officer 1 recruitment. Applicants were reportedly required to pay between four hundred thousand and eight hundred thousand pesos in exchange for guaranteed inclusion in the final list. All four respondents have been placed under ninety-day preventive suspension to prevent interference and protect the integrity of the proceedings.

Six officials from BFP Region X have also been formally charged for recruitment irregularities, including the approval of applicants without required Medical, Physical, and Dental clearances and the failure to properly release examination results. The issuance of preventive suspension orders will be resolved upon evaluation of their submitted answers.

In BFP Region IV-A, two personnel were charged for alleged irregularities in fire safety inspection practices, involving violations of established inspection protocols.

Meanwhile, administrative proceedings are underway against a fire officer in BFP Region I for allegedly demanding Ninety Thousand Pesos (₱90,000.00) in exchange for facilitating a recruitment slot. A Formal Charge has been issued, along with an Order of Preventive Suspension for ninety (90) days.

To date, the DILG Task Force overseeing accountability measures within the Bureau of Fire Protection has received approximately forty (40) complaints. Twenty-one (21) of these have already been referred to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for investigation and case buildup.

The DILG reiterated that these actions form part of a sustained effort to enforce accountability, uphold merit-based recruitment, and restore public trust in the Bureau of Fire Protection.