BFP starts probe on ‘Boracay 28’

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has started investigating the controversial Boracay Island excursion involving 28 personnel in its Western Visayas regional office.

But it is akin to a “virtual probe” for now, according to newly installed BFP-6 head, Fire Senior Superintendent Jerry Candido.

“Virtual because the investigators are not physically present in Western Visayas. They are just going through with the available documentary evidence, in the meantime,” he said.

BFP’s second-highest-ranking officer, deputy director for administrator Fire Chief Supt. Roel Jemery Diaz leads the 8-person investigation team.

Candido said he will ask Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas for guidance on how BFP investigators could go about their probe given that they will come from Metro Manila.

“We’re considering the possibility of asking Mayor Treñas if he would allow the transit of the investigators in Iloilo City, but they would be staying in a different locality outside of Iloilo City,” he said.

Candido said BFP personnel could submit their medical certificates since officials in the national headquarters undergo weekly rapid tests for COVID-19.

But he said they will abide by Treñas’ decision.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año earlier ordered the relief of the 28 BFP officers for attending a supposed conference, which was later revealed to be a despedida (farewell) party, from June 12 to 14, 2020 in Boracay Island.

The unauthorized entry of the BFP personnel in the island violated quarantine protocols.

Candido said the relief is a serious blow due to the lack of BFP personnel in Western Visayas.

“Even before this, we already have a problem with lack of officers,” he said.

Candido said he will ask for consideration if some of the 28 personnel, 15 of whom are officers, can be retained in the region.

“Because of the ongoing quarantine guidelines, we just couldn’t pull out officers from other regions. But if it will not be possible to retain some officers, we would make the most of what we have,” he said.

Candido replaced Senior Supt. Roderick Aguto, who was first to be relieved after BFP’s Boracay excursion was made public.

Candido, who used to be Assistant Regional Director for Administration and Operations and later Director for Logistics of the BFP-National Office, arrived in Iloilo City on Sunday.

He underwent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) test on Monday.

Meanwhile, Candido said Treñas already allowed BFP personnel who tested negative for COVID-19 to return to work.