Fire Chief Superintendent Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu has been named the new Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Malacañang confirmed Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. designated Kwan Tiu through a memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.

Kwan Tiu currently serves as the BFP Deputy Chief for Operations.

“In order to ensure the continuous and effective delivery of public service, please be informed that you are hereby designated as Officer-in-Charge, Bureau of Fire Protection, effective immediately, until a replacement is designated or until otherwise directed by this Office,” the memorandum read.

The appointment follows the preventive suspension of BFP Chief Jesus Fernandez, who is facing administrative and criminal complaints filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Fernandez is accused of receiving ₱14.7 million in kickbacks linked to the 2024 procurement of 132 ambulances, allegedly through manipulation of the bureau’s bidding process when he chaired the BFP Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).

Earlier, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla ordered Fernandez’s preventive suspension after the agency’s investigation uncovered the alleged bribery scheme.

Kwan Tiu is expected to assume leadership immediately and maintain continuity in the bureau’s operations until a permanent chief is appointed.