By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The city government of Angeles City, Pampanga has pledged full assistance to the victims and families affected by the deadly building collapse as authorities intensify recovery efforts and widen the investigation into possible negligence behind the tragedy.
Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II assured the public that the local government would provide psychological counseling, financial assistance, medical aid, food support, and transportation arrangements for survivors and grieving families in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
The mayor stressed that long-term support programs are also being prepared for those directly affected by the disaster.
Independent Experts Join Probe
Lazatin announced the formation of a composite investigative team composed of private engineers, legal experts, and technical specialists tasked with uncovering what triggered the catastrophic collapse.
He called on the contractor and property owner to fully cooperate with authorities and voluntarily face investigators to answer questions surrounding possible construction lapses and accountability.
According to the mayor, anyone proven responsible for negligence must face the full force of the law.
“The government’s responsibility does not end at the disaster site,” Lazatin said, emphasizing that families deserve transparency, accountability, and clear answers as the investigation moves forward.
Danger Amid Twisted Steel and Rubble
Search, retrieval, and clearing operations remain ongoing under the Unified Command Management system as heavy equipment and rescue personnel continue carefully dismantling unstable metal debris, collapsed scaffolding, and reinforced materials at the site.
Authorities said extreme caution is being observed to prevent secondary collapses and protect responders working in hazardous conditions.
The Bureau of Fire Protection Special Rescue Force, along with other emergency units, is also conducting continuous structural assessments to ensure the safety of retrieval operations and proper identification of missing persons and recovered remains.
Investigation Deepens
Jonvic Remulla personally visited the collapse site on Wednesday and assured the city government of national support in the investigation, which will be led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Remulla urged local officials to prioritize search and retrieval efforts while investigators work to determine whether criminal liability may be involved.
Meanwhile, Francis Tolentino inspected the construction site separately to assess whether labor and workplace safety violations may have contributed to the incident.
As recovery efforts continue, pressure is mounting on authorities to determine whether the tragedy was the result of unavoidable structural failure — or a preventable disaster rooted in negligence and ignored safety standards.
ia/xf
