MANILA, Philippines — A day after warning that the ax will fall on crooked police officers, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday urged officers of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to shun any form of corruption in a bid to cleanse the public image of the uniformed services.
Speaking before BFP personnel at the turnover-of-command ceremony for Chief Supt. Jose Embang Jr. as the new officer-in-charge, Año said it is high time that the uniformed personnel of the government put an end to the public’s negative perception of them.
“We must have what we call the moral courage, for it is very important—the moral courage to shun any form of corruption, to refuse any bribery attempt or any temptation. Just a simple refusal will lead you to a habit of an ideal public servant so you must possess that moral courage,” he said.
The BFP is an attached agency of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
While Año estimates that rouge officers may comprise only less than 1 percent of the total personnel of the uniformed services, he said government agencies should not tolerate even just a single scalawag in their ranks.
“Every fireman counts. Your actions, no matter what your rank or position is, will affect the entire bureau. So be mindful and practice the highest levels of professionalism and integrity,” he said.