Comar: Investigate BFP anomalies

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City fire marshal Aderson Comar has requested the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to look into the alleged illegal activities of some personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection that might involves graft and corruption.

Comar’s letter to the anti-graft body was supported by several documents, including the letter of his investigator that was sent to BFP-7 Regional Director Maria Luisa Hadjula that discussed the alleged questionable activities of some BFP personnel.

Comar said instead of giving attention to the report, Hadjula relieved Senior Fire Office 2 Vivencio Talle Jr. from Cebu City fire station and transferred him to the Cebu provincial fire station.

Talle, then chief of the Intelligence and Investigation section, was tasked by Comar to investigate the reported anomalous transactions in the office of the Fire Prevention and Inspection Section.

He said the illegal practices have existed since the term of former Cebu City fire marshal Esmael Codilla, but there was no action taken. Comar claimed that even the former chief of the Fire Safety Enforcement Section was almost apprehended in an entrapment operation.

Comar said unscrupulous BFP personnel just release Fire Safety Inspection Certificates to the applicants even if they lack some of the requirements.

After Comar was appointed fire marshal, he learned that a building was inspected by BFP inspectors Ronnie Magalang, Roy Arellano and Primo Zabala Jr. and despite noted defects and violations of the provisions of the Fire Code, they still recommended the issuance of clearance last February 9, 2011.

When Comar ordered a re-inspection of the building, he found out that the building still failed to comply with the requirement that is why he quickly communicated with the Office of the Building Officials to hold the issuance of the occupancy permit for the building.

 “Kon unsay gi-recommend sa akong mga expert personnel ako ra nga giaprobahan pero wala koy labot kon tinuod nga duna silay binuang,” said Codilla, now the assistant regional fire marshal for operations.

The FREEMAN called up the Cebu City fire station yesterday, but the three fire inspectors were out of their office. Aside from not giving attention to his report, Comar said Hadjula also promoted Magalang to head of the Fire Safety Enforcement Section.

“Kon maimbestigar ni sa Ombudsman daghang malambigit niining maong anomaliya diha sa Bureau of Fire Protection nga maapil pa ang ubang mga opisyal,” said Comar.

Hadjula was not available for comment yesterday. – (FREEMAN)