Angeles City Mayor urges cooperation from contractor, owner of collapsed building

The contractor and owner of the building that collapsed in Angeles City, Pampanga are called on to cooperate with authorities regarding the incident, said Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II.

"If negligence caused this tragedy, those responsible must answer for it. The government’s duty does not end at the incident site," said Lazatin, in a statement posted by the Angeles City Information Office.

"The families of the victims deserve answers. The authorities deserve cooperation. The public deserves accountability ...and accountability begins with showing up," he added.

Lazatin, the information office reported, ordered the conduct of "a full investigation and hold accountable those found responsible."

"We owe every worker and families the truth. And we promise the families of the victims that no stone will be left unturned," he said.

As of posting, search and rescue operations were suspended on Monday evening after authorities found no more signs of life beneath the rubble.

The efforts shifted to retrieval and clearing operations on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino announced that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region III Director Geraldine Panlilio is under a one-month preventive suspension following the death of four individuals in a collapsed building.

Four people were confirmed dead, 16 were still reported missing, and 26 were rescued in the incident, according to Pelayo.

The number of missing decreased from 17 to 16 after one of the individuals initially listed as missing personally appeared before authorities, the BFP said. — BAP, GMA News