A former employee of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined PHP500,000 by the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 37, after being found guilty of violating Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Law. The charge stemmed from allegations that he demanded money in exchange for issuing a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC).
The Anti Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said in a statement that the investigation began after a private employee filed a complaint, prompting the agency (ARTA) to conduct surveillance on the accused, Mr. Rolando Cepe, a Fire Safety Inspector for Electrical Inspections at BFP.
Following verification of the allegations, ARTA, in collaboration with the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), carried out an entrapment operation and caught Mr. Cepe accepting marked money.
As part of its ongoing efforts to combat red tape, ARTA continues to work with law enforcement agencies to eradicate violations of R.A. 11032, particularly fixing activities.
Echoing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas,” the government remains committed to eliminating corruption and ensuring efficient public service delivery.
