MORALE DEBACLE | Mayor to fire bureau: Blame yourselves

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Region 6 have nobody to blame but themselves if they suffer from low morale following the controversial “despedida” or farewell party organized by 28 BFP personnel in Boracay Island recently.

A BFP official earlier said that their agency is reeling from criticisms hurled at the so-called Boracay 28, particularly low morale and discrimination.

The despedida party held two weekends ago was considered a serious breach of health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Worse, a female BFP officer broke her 14-day quarantine after arriving from Cebu so she can join the shindig. She later tested positive for COVID-19.

The Boracay bash was also reminiscent of the mañanita party organized for the birthday of National Capital Region police chief Debold Sinas.

Sinas, however, was fortunate enough to be retained in his post after a favorable statement from President Rodrigo Duterte. The so-called “Boracay 28” have been relieved pending an investigation into the controversial party.

On Monday, Treñas said the concerned BFP personnel should have known better before partying in the famed island-resort.

“Well, anhun ko na. Waay man ko nagkadto sa Boracay. Indi ako ang nagkadto sa Boracay. Dapat gid ma-low morale bangud gin-ubra nila to ang bagay nga indi husto,” he said in a press conference on Monday.

The controversy led to the relief of Fire Senior Superintendent Roderick Aguto as BFP-6 regional director.

Treñas also received reports that the group went on a side trip to Anini-y, Antique before going to Boracay in the guise of attending a conference.

BFP members have decried the discrimination they are suffering after the controversy erupted, according to Fire Senior Inspector Stephen Jardeleza, BFP-6 spokesperson.

“Those who have stayed in their boarding houses claimed that they feel discriminated. Because they can’t go out, they couldn’t ask their board mates to buy something for them,” he said.

According to Jardaleza, some BFP personnel experienced people turning indifferent towards them after learning that they are from the fire bureau.

“Low morale gid subong ang kalabanan nga mga personnel. Even those personnel nga wala gid kalabot-labot, nagakadalahig,” Jardeleza said.

Meanwhile, Treñas said he is hopeful that the new leaders of the BFP will provide discipline to the fire bureau.

“I think there will be leaders of BFP coming – providing discipline kag siguro with new leaders hopefully, I am very certain madala sila sa high morale,” he said.

Fire Senior Superintendent Jerry Candido replaced Aguto as head of BFP-6.