“It is still a search and rescue operation. ‘Di pa po tayo nawawalan ng pag-asa na may buhay pa sa loob,” Remulla said, stressing that authorities have not lost hope that survivors may still be found inside the debris.
“Hindi po tumitigil ‘yan, we will continue, tuloy-tuloy ang suporta dito, the mayor, the BFP, the PNP and all the other agencies are working para matapos po ang lahat ng ito,” he added.
He added that response efforts continue with full coordination among agencies, including the Bureau of Fire Protection’s (BFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), saying operations will remain continuous until all tasks are completed.
The BFP had earlier stated that the situation had transitioned into retrieval operations after detecting “no signs of life” at the collapse site.
However, Remulla maintained that the possibility of survivors cannot yet be ruled out, citing past incidents where individuals were rescued days after being trapped.
“There have been instances kasi na two weeks after nahanap pa rin katulad ng nangyari sa Baguio. So for me, I would rather consider it a search and rescue,” he said.
He added that rescue teams are still using detection equipment to locate possible survivors.
“We had not given up hope. Hindi tayo nawawalan ng pag-asa na may buhay pa rin.”
“We don’t know enough until in the absence of information, we will go with what we know. That it is still possible for them to be alive. So, search and rescue pa rin kami,” he emphasized.
The DILG chief also said he will recommend the issuance of a hold departure order from the Department of Justice (DOJ) against building owner Ernest Jackson Lim and contractor Joel Young, both of whom have yet to surface or coordinate with authorities following the incident.
Earlier, the Angeles City government said it would summon the building owner and contractor over reported structural modifications allegedly made without proper permits or approved revisions from the Office of the Building Official.
The nine-storey building in Barangay Balibago collapsed between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Sunday, May 25, according to the BFP. At the time of the incident, 47 construction workers were reportedly inside the structure.
As of this writing, at least four people have been confirmed dead, including a Malaysian national and two construction workers.
17 individuals remain missing or trapped, while 26 workers have been rescued alive, based on data from the Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the BFP.
Newly appointed Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino has ordered a 30-day preventive suspension of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 3 Director Geraldine Panlilio. The move is intended to allow an impartial investigation into the structural collapse and determine possible lapses in oversight.
Authorities continue search and rescue operations as investigations into the cause of the building collapse remain ongoing.
