Robredo sacks fire safety officer in extort case
15-Jan-12, 4:19 PM | Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com
MANILA, Philippines – Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo has ordered the immediate relief and demotion of a fire Safety Inspector assigned in Makati City for allegedly extorting money from a staff of a beauty salon owner last year.
The officer was identified as fire Officer 3 Ronardo Ilagan, and he has denied the allegations
Fire marshal Supt. Ricardo Perdigon relieved and transferred Ilagan to the Tejeros fire Substation, where he was demoted as ordinary fire truck crew and nozzleman who operates fire hoses during fire fights.
Robredo said he received a complaint from one Cheryl Medina, of Kazemi Face, Skin and Body Care Center at Barangay Magallanes, who alleged that Ilagan caused the refill of the beauty salon’s fire extinguishers twice despite the fact that they already bought same firefighting equipment from a reputable company.
Robredo said that although Ilagan can easily deny that he asked for P45,000 from Medina in exchange for the issuance of FSIC (Fire Safety Inspection Certificate), he still delayed the issuance of permit which was filed last March 2011.
Robredo encouraged all business owners to report erring safety inspectors.
“I am encouraging all owners and officers of all business firms to comply with the requirements of the fire Safety Code and to report to me all their complaints against fire Safety Inspectors and other fire officers engaged in shakedowns and extortion operations,” he said.
