THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 asked Supt. Esmael Codilla to account for the more than P400,000 worth of gasoline the Cebu City Fire Department used but was not paid since 2005.

With proper documentation, BFP 7 Director Eleuterio Iturriaga said he is willing to endorse the expense before the central office so that funds will be allocated for the City Fire Department.

From 2005 up to last month, Iturriaga learned from Cebu City Fire Marshal Codilla that the fire department still owes P433,000 from a gasoline station in Barangay Basak, Cebu City.

Iturriaga is giving Codilla ample time to submit a liquidation report to clear him of the liability.

Codilla begged off from issuing any comment on the matter.

Iturriaga also told Codilla to refrain from including the Cebu City Hall-owned fire trucks in filling with gasoline intended for the bureau’s fire trucks.

Not owned

“If it is not owned by the bureau, it is not included. (We) can’t provide (for) what is not owned by us,” he said.

Instead, Iturriaga said Codilla should make a representation before the local government unit to allocate gasoline for the City-owned fire trucks.

Iturriaga said he has no personal grudge against Codilla.

He said he is only trying to help the city fire marshal to solve the problem.

On whether Codilla will be relieved from his post as fire marshal, Iturriaga said there is no order yet from the central office.

Transferring or relieving an official from his post is also discouraged during election period.

Iturriaga said in Central Visayas there are three vacant positions that Codilla may take.

These are the positions for BFP assistant regional director for operations, provincial fire marshal in Siquijor and one position in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

During their meeting last month, Iturriaga said Codilla did not volunteer to take any of the vacant posts but vowed to follow any order from the bureau.

Iturriaga, however, declined to comment on Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s warning that the BFP will earn his wrath once they relieve or transfer Codilla.

As to the P433,000 gasoline expenses, Iturriaga said the amount now is very alarming.

“The question is who will pay? He needs to present proper documentation to justify the expenses,” Iturriaga said, in a news conference yesterday.

The documents must show dates of fires, the types of occupancies (gutted by the fire), number of fire trucks deployed, duration of firefighting operations, and the distance of water sources.

While these are being complied, Iturriaga said gasoline allocation will be given directly to respective substations.

This stripped Codilla of the authority to allocate gasoline supply to the eight substations in Cebu City, as Iturriaga’s directive took effect last week.

At present, the City Fire Department has 14 BFP-owned trucks, one service vehicle and 13 fire trucks.

Of the 13 trucks, 10 are operational while the three others have been recommended for change of engines.

Quota

Each fire truck, Iturriaga said, has a quarterly gasoline share of 600 liters. However, because of the price increase, allocation for every fire truck has been reduced.

Two Petron gasoline stations, one in Sitio Banawa, Guadalupe and the other in Barangay Lahug, are supplying gasoline to the fire department, Iturriaga said.

Under the new scheme, Senior Insp. Rodolfo Colon, BFP 7 supply and accountable officer, who was present during the news conference, said every fire substation is required to obtain gas and requisition slips before getting their respective share.

Since the new scheme was implemented, the fire substations in Barangays Guadalupe, Pahina Central, and Talamban have received 50 liters each.