Calls are mounting for an independent investigation into the collapse of a nine-storey building under construction in Angeles City, Pampanga, as authorities examine possible safety violations and lapses in regulatory compliance.
The building collapsed in the early hours of May 24, leaving at least three people dead and 18 others still believed to be trapped under the debris. Rescue teams have continued round-the-clock operations to locate victims beneath the rubble.
The incident has raised serious questions over whether the project complied with the National Building Code, construction safety requirements, and occupational safety standards for workers at the site.
Investigators are being urged to look beyond the immediate cause of the collapse and determine whether there were structural defects, unsafe work practices, weak supervision, or failures in inspection and permitting.
The Angeles City government has identified the building owner as Jackson Lim and the contractor as Golden Years Construction.
Pending the outcome of the investigation, the building owner and construction firm are being urged to shoulder the medical and burial expenses of the victims and assist the families of those still missing.
Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña said accountability should be pursued if investigators find serious violations of safety rules.
“If there are serious violations of safety standards, especially the Building Code, those involved have to be prosecuted,” he said.
He also warned against any attempt to pressure injured workers or grieving families into signing quitclaim documents in exchange for immediate assistance.
“Baka naman magkalimutan na o di kaya papirmahin ng quitclaim ang mga biktima. That would be a further tragedy for the victims,” he noted.
The case has also prompted calls for concerned agencies to conduct urgent inspections of similar high-rise construction projects nationwide to prevent another tragedy.
Authorities are expected to determine whether the collapse was caused by structural failure, construction negligence, weather-related factors, or a combination of lapses.
For the victims and their families, the investigation is now central to establishing what went wrong, who should be held liable, and what safeguards must be enforced to prevent future construction disasters.