The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assured families of missing workers that search, rescue, and retrieval operations will continue at the site of the collapsed building in Angeles City, Pampanga, despite the unstable condition of the structure.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said responders remain committed to recovering all victims, whether alive or dead, as teams carefully work through the debris of the under-construction building.
“Yes, huwag mawawalan ng pag-asa. Maniwala kayo sa amin, gagawin namin ang lahat para ma-recover ang lahat ng mga tao, buhay man o patay,” Remulla said on Wednesday.
Remulla appealed for patience and understanding from the victims’ families, stressing that responders are operating under highly dangerous conditions where one wrong move could trigger another collapse.
“You cannot blame the responders. They are doing their best. One wrong move and the entire structure will collapse further. So everything has to be synchronized,” he said.
He likened the operation to slowly pulling out pieces from a fragile structure, saying rescuers must remove debris methodically until all possible victims are found.
He also said all agencies involved must work under a unified command to ensure a coordinated response to the tragedy.
“We have to have a unified voice in dealing with the tragedy under a unified command,” he said.
At the same time, the DILG chief said authorities are preparing possible criminal charges against the building’s owner and contractor as the investigation continues.
“We are looking at the criminal aspect of the operations of the owner and the contractor,” Remulla said.
He said authorities have already identified the owner and contractor, while investigators continue to determine the circumstances that led to the collapse.
Remulla added that a full technical assessment is underway to establish the exact cause of the incident. The actions of concerned local officials, including the city engineer and building official, will also be reviewed as part of the probe.