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Announcement15 OCT 2026
TOFF 2026 reaches its Top 20
Twenty finalists remain from 58 nominees. Final interviews come next, on 8–9 November at SM Prime headquarters in Pasay City.
Compiled from BFP records and published reports3 min read
FROM 58 NOMINEES 58 NOMINEES 20 FINALISTS 10 TO BE HONORED
The third Search for the Ten Outstanding Firefighters of the Philippines has its finalists. Twenty members of the Bureau of Fire Protection were chosen from 58 nominees after national selection interviews on 7 and 8 October 2026, according to a DigiCast Negros report based on a Bacolod City Fire Station release.
The BFP announced the Top 20 on its Facebook page on 13 October: ten commissioned and ten non-commissioned officers. By its count, the 58 national nominees came from 119 aspirants.
- 119aspirants
- 58national nominees
- 20finalists, 10 + 10
- 10to be honored
The twenty finalists
From the BFP’s announcement, listed here by surname within each category. Between them, they come from 14 regions.
Commissioned officers
- FSUPT Ma. Theresa A. AlquezaNCR
- FCINSP Darren P. Baclea-anRegion VIII
- FSUPT Reeven Ryan C. BolitoRegion IV-A
- FSINSP Cerfranz A. BonielRegion VII
- FSUPT Raul G. BustaliñoRegion VII
- FSUPT Anthony C. De PazRegion VIII
- FSINSP Cypol Jay C. InocenteCaraga
- FSUPT Jenny Mae C. MasipBacolod City Fire Marshal · Negros Island Region
- FSINSP Cesar A. Morfe Jr.Municipal Fire Marshal, Los Baños · Region IV-A
- FSUPT Jacky L. NginaNCR
Non-commissioned officers
- FO1 Emmanuel R. BolañoRegion V
- SFO1 Jefferson P. BuenaventuraRegion VI
- SFO3 Daisy L. CabauatanRegion II
- FO1 John Patrick G. Dela PeñaRegion III
- SFO2 Kennedy D. DimaanoRegion IV-A
- FO3 Mark Joem A. FernandezRegion XI
- FO3 Rafael Antonio D. GardoseCordillera Administrative Region
- SFO2 Mark Anthony G. IbaleRegion IV-B
- FO1 Fatima Ayselaine R. IngkohRegion IX
- SFO2 Sussie May L. MaganRegion VI
Familiar names
Five of the twenty have been finalists before. FSINSP Cesar A. Morfe Jr., now the Municipal Fire Marshal of Los Baños, Laguna, was among the Top 20 in 2024. FSUPT Raul G. Bustaliño, FSUPT Anthony C. De Paz, SFO2 Sussie May L. Magan and SFO3 Daisy L. Cabauatan were 2025 finalists; the 2025 list spelled the last name Cabautan.
From Bacolod
Supt. Jenny Mae Masip, the Bacolod City Fire Marshal, represents BFP–Negros Island Region in the Commissioned Officers category.
“This recognition is not just for me alone, it also represents the dedication of the men and women of Bacolod City Fire Station.”
What happens next
- 3 MAR 2026 The search is launched At the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, during Fire Prevention Month.
- 20 JUL 2026 Nominations close Open to commissioned officers from Fire Inspector to Fire Senior Superintendent, and to non-commissioned officers from Fire Officer 1 to Senior Fire Officer 4.
- 7–8 OCT 2026 National selection interviews 58 nominees narrowed to 20 finalists.
- 13 OCT 2026 The Top 20 is announced By the BFP, on its official Facebook page.
- 8–9 NOV 2026Next Final interviews At SM Prime headquarters in Pasay City.
- TO BE ANNOUNCED Awarding night No date or venue found in published reports.
The first two awarding nights were held in the first week of December: 2 December 2024 at SMX Convention Center Manila, and 4 December 2025 at SMX Aura in Taguig City. No date or venue for 2026 has been found in published reports.
What the 2026 search recognizes
The organizers describe this year’s search as recognizing work in fire safety and protection, emergency response, community education and resilience-building. In 2025, the Board of Judges looked at socio-civic involvement, ingenuity and innovation, professional achievements and overall performance. Read how the Ten are chosen.