P500,000 for a BFP Job Senior Officer Caught in Entrapment Operation
BFP – What was supposed to be an opportunity to join the BFP allegedly turned into a costly scheme involving a recruitment slot worth as much as P500,000.
A senior officer of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) was arrested in an entrapment operation over allegations that he was selling a recruitment slot for as much as P500,000.
BFP spokesperson FSupt. Anthony Arroyo said the operation was launched after an applicant filed a complaint against the officer, who allegedly contacted the applicant online and offered assistance in securing a position within the agency.
“According sa aplikante, may lumapit sa kanya na as ‘backer’ daw in exchange of favor para siguradong makakapasok siya,” Arroyo said.
According to the complaint, the suspect initially asked for P500,000 in exchange for supposedly guaranteeing the applicant’s entry into the BFP. The two later met in San Fernando, Pampanga, where the amount being demanded was allegedly lowered to P300,000.
Authorities then coordinated the planned transaction with the Police Regional Office 3-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), leading to the entrapment operation.
“Nung nagkaabutan na ay nahuli na po on the act ang isang BFP officer at kasalukuyan ay nasa custody siya ng PNP ng CIDG to be specific ng Region 3 at for inquest na po siya,” Arroyo said.
Arroyo noted that this was already the second entrapment operation connected to alleged recruitment scams amid the BFP’s current hiring activities. The first operation was conducted in Region 1 on August 6.
He said the huge amount allegedly being sought for a recruitment slot may be linked to the intense competition among applicants. The BFP is set to hire only 2,504 personnel nationwide this year, even as the number of applicants has surpassed 20,000.
“Napakaraming aplikante. Regular quota lang naman ay 2,000. Nadagdagan lang for this year ng 504 dahil sa attrition quota. At kung i-divide pa natin ‘yan sa bawat region, halimbawa sa isang region ay nasa more or less 100 ang quota. So ang aplikante dyan ay halos hindi lamang times 5, halos times 10 ang mga aplikante,” Arroyo explained.
The BFP continues to caution applicants against fixers and anyone claiming they can guarantee entry into the agency. It has also implemented the e-Hire system, allowing applicants to apply online and monitor their application status in real time.
“‘Yung recruitment process against potential influence or corruption, talagang matinding pagbabago. ‘Yun nga lang, merong mga gumagawa ng hindi dapat at mino-monitor natin ‘yan at tinatrabaho ng aming ahensya sa mga erring namin na mga officer,” he added.
Legal proceedings against the arrested officer are now being coordinated with the PNP, while the BFP urged applicants to immediately report any attempt to solicit money in exchange for a recruitment slot.
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