THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday assured families of missing workers that authorities will continue search, rescue, and retrieval operations at the site of the collapsed building in Angeles City, Pampanga, despite the dangerous and unstable condition of the structure.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said responders on the ground remain committed to bringing every victim home, stressing that operations will continue carefully and methodically until the last possible area has been cleared.
“Yes, ‘wag 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.
The DILG chief appealed for understanding as rescuers work under extremely delicate conditions where a single wrong move could trigger another collapse and put both trapped victims and responders at greater risk.
“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. “Parang walis ito na tinanggal mo sa tiklis. Kasi isa-isa mo bubunutin yan hanggang makuha lahat.”
Remulla emphasized that every agency involved in the operation must move as one to ensure an organized and focused response for the affected families and communities.
“We have to have a unified voice in dealing with the tragedy under a unified command,” he said.
At the same time, the DILG Secretary said authorities are now preparing possible criminal charges against the owner and contractor of the building as the investigation moves forward.
“We are looking at the criminal aspect of the operations of the owner and the contractor,” he said during an ambush interview.
According to Remulla, authorities have already identified the owner and contractor while investigators continue to determine the circumstances that led to the collapse.
He added that a full technical assessment is still ongoing to establish the exact cause of the incident, noting that the actions of concerned local officials, including the city engineer and building official, will also be reviewed as part of the investigation.
About the Author
