Ex-BFP chief pleads not guilty to indirect bribery raps

MANILA, Philippines — Former Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jesus Fernandez on Tuesday pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on one of his two indirect bribery cases before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.

The information was relayed to the Inquirer by his lawyer, Jhufel Brañanola, in a text message. Fernandez is charged with receiving P10.7 million, part of the supposed P14.752-million bribe from Rosaverna Sangga in connection with the BFP’s procurement of 132 ambulances worth P485 million last year.

READ: Ombudsman orders BFP chief dismissed; graft, bribe raps filed

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Sangga, the representative of a company that entered into an agreement with the BFP, allegedly handed over P10.752 million to Fernandez on Nov. 21, 2024, followed by P4 million on Sept. 25, 2025.

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Aside from indirect bribery, the former BFP chief also faces two counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan Second Division over the same allegation.

During his recent arraignment for one of the graft cases, he also pleaded not guilty. The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Fernandez from government service on Sept. 3, although his lawyer said he has filed a motion for reconsideration. —John Eric Mendoza