By Jennifer P. Rendon
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-6 personnel are reeling from prejudices and brickbats thrown at them after 28 of their colleagues went partying in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan amid the community quarantine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Worse, one of those who attended the party was positive for the disease.
Fire Senior Inspector Stephen Jardeleza, BFP-6 spokesperson, said that some BFP-6 personnel claimed to be victims of discrimination because of the controversies hounding their agency.
Jardeleza said 196 persons, mostly BFP personnel, had close contacts with the female BFP officer who was positive for COVID-19.
Some were quarantined at the BFP office while others stayed in their boarding houses.
So far, 132 close contacts were cleared of the disease after undergoing RT-PCR tests. The results of the 64 other close contacts are still pending.
“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.
Other BFP personnel claimed that some persons turned indifferent 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.
But he appealed to the people of Western Visayas to still support the BFP, citing the public’s important role in the success of the agency’s program, particularly in the enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines and the BFP’s role in the COVID pandemic.
Meanwhile, Jardeleza said that Fire Senior Superintendent Jerry Candido, newly installed BFP-6 chief, has accepted the challenge to revive the BFP-6’s image amid criticisms following some of its personnel’s alleged violation of the quarantine protocols.
Candido will make it a priority to win the trust and confidence of the people.
He would also work out to strengthen the cooperation between the BFP and other agencies and the local government units.
Despite the censures, the BFP-6 assured that it would continue to enforce their mandate as stipulated in the Fire Code, Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan, and responses relative to the Covid-19 protocols such as decontamination, border control, and the likes.
RELIEF
Meanwhile, seven more BFP-6 personnel were relieved from their posts following the controversial despedida.
Jardeleza said three of them hold the rank of superintendent while the four are non-commissioned officers.
BFP chief Director Jose Embang Jr. ordered the relief of Fire Superintendents Allan Agarin, Edwin Salazar, and Nazrudyn Cablayan effective June 18, 2020.
Also relieved were Senior Fire Officer 4 (SFO4) Gene Aragon’s, SFO2 Jonathan Hungriano, SFO1 Ralph Liban, and FO2 Marvin Gersaniva.
Aharon, BFP-6 Logistics Division chief; Salazar, BFP-6 assistant regional director for operations; and Cablayan, BFP-Aklan provincial fire marshal, were reassigned to the Office of the General Support Services at the BFP national headquarters.
The seven officers allegedly joined former BFP-6 regional director Roderick Aguto in the controversial despedida party held in Boracay Island a week ago.
The female officer who also went with the group and was later found to be COVID-19 positive remains in her post.
Embang also relieved Fire Superintendent Pamela Rojane Candido, Negros Occidental-Provincial Fire Marshall, who is now reassigned to BFP-Region 7.
Jardeleza said that the relief of Supt. Candido, the wife of incoming BFP-6 regional director Jerry Candido, had nothing to do with the Boracay incident.
“Ma’am Candido couldn’t work directly under her husband. As the regional director, he has to rate his subordinate commanders’ performance,” Jardeleza explained.
Supt. Candido is slated to take over Negros Oriental’s top BFP post.
Jardeleza said there might be another round of relief and reassignment, as the investigation on the alleged breach of quarantine protocols continues.
In the meantime, the seven police personnel are still under quarantine in Iloilo City.
The BFP national headquarters also created a team that will investigate the Boracay incident.
