BFP officer dismissed from service for asking ‘thanksgiving money’ from applicant

Local

NO ‘backer,’ no job — then came the bribe request

A Bureau of Fire Protection Central Visayas (BFP 7) officer accused of demanding P400,000 from a job applicant has been dismissed from service and will face criminal charges, following findings from the Office of the Ombudsman, according to a press release issued by the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) on August 1.

Roy Sangueza Mat. Castro, a Chief Inspector assigned to BFP’s Fire Safety Enforcement Section, was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by NBI-7 on June 27, 2024.

The operation stemmed from a complaint filed by Rochelle Olinan Quimbo, who applied for the position of Fire Safety Officer 1.

According to the NBI-7, Quimbo had completed all required documents and was qualified for the job but her application was rejected, allegedly for lacking a “backer.”

The complainant began receiving persistent calls and messages from Castro, who allegedly demanded P400,000 in exchange for her inclusion in the final roster of appointees.

Quimbo told agents she was the third applicant Castro had asked to provide “thanksgiving money.” At 2 p.m. on June 27, Quimbo met Castro at Luzern Restaurant in Cebu City and handed over P200,000 in marked money.

NBI operatives moved in and arrested him.

Castro was initially charged before the Office of the Ombudsman–Visayas for violating Section 3(b) of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), for direct bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code, and for grave misconduct under Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).

On June 28, 2025, the Ombudsman issued a resolution finding probable cause to indict Castro for indirect bribery under Article 211 of the Revised Penal Code and violation of Section 7(d) of RA 6713.

The case, initially docketed as OMB-V-C-JUN-24-0145, is now filed as Criminal Case No. M-CEB-24-047Q5-CR.

In a separate resolution dated June 30, 2025, the Ombudsman found Castro administratively liable for grave misconduct and violation of Section 7(d) of RA 6713, leading to his dismissal from service.

Along with his dismissal, the Ombudsman imposed the following: perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of all retirement benefits except accrued leave credits, cancellation of Civil Service eligibility, and a lifetime ban from taking Civil Service examinations.

“The respondent’s blatant act of corruption thus deserves the supreme penalty of dismissal from service,” the Ombudsman stated. “Grave misconduct is not a question of frequency, but as its own name suggests, of gravity or weight.”(MyTVCebu)