Rescuers ‘not giving up hope’ in searching collapsed supermarket —NDRRMC

Search and rescue operations in the collapsed Chuzon supermarket in Porac are set to continue even as authorities and experts were not able to detect any signs of life in the rubble as of Thursday.

Edgar Posadas, spokesman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), made the clarification three days after the magnitude-6.1 Luzon earthquake tore down the four-storey grocery store Monday afternoon.  

"We're not (giving up hope), kaya nga nasa search and rescue pa tayo," Posadas said in a phone interview.

"Alam mo 'yung Pinoy... never say die, even just to give people, good or bad ano 'yung result nito, even just to give families, kung hindi man ay proper closure, kung sakasakaling buhay, di maibalik natin sila sa mga pamilya nila," he added.

Posadas reiterated an earlier report from authorities that rescuers equipped with gadgets and K9 found "no proof of life" in the area.

Posadas, however, saluted the "heroes" who continued to make sacrifices in the hope of returning victims to their loved ones.

"Maliit na bagay 'yung sakripisyo para lang maiayos natin ito, everybody is here, nakakatuwa, talagang, you know 'yung pilipino dun ako naniniwala... 'yung everybody is hero in his own right, ordinary people turned into heroes instantly, ang galing," the official said.

The NDRRMC spokesperson was not able to say exactly how much longer they plan to conduct search and rescue operations. 

Nevertheless, he said authorities have considered extending the clearing operations for at least one more week.

"Realistically it can lead to a week, maano eh, malaki yung building, four storeys eh," Posadas said.

As of Thursday, at least five people have been reported killed and nine others injured in the building collapse.

According to Posadas, they were still looking for 14 people who are feared trapped in the rubble. — Margaret Claire Layug/MDM, GMA News