Angeles city: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated and deployed search and rescue personnel and emergency response teams to support ongoing operations in Angeles City, Pampanga, following the collapse of a building under construction over the weekend.
According to Philippines News Agency, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stated that the police force would also assist in the investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the incident 'in the interest of truth and accountability.' However, he emphasized that the priority remains the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Nartatez ordered the mobilization of personnel and assets to expedite the rescue of approximately 20 trapped victims, most of whom are construction workers who were on-site when the structure collapsed on Sunday afternoon. Police personnel have also been deployed to secure the site and nearby roads to ensure the smooth and swift movement of manpower and resources for rescue operations.
Nartatez remarked, 'Every second matters in a crisis, and our duty is to act without delay - bringing every available asset to save lives, account for the missing, and support affected families on the ground.' He also mentioned that police units on the ground were instructed to establish immediate support facilities for affected families and survivors, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to extend maximum assistance to the victims.
An on-site first aid and welfare desk has been set up by the Pampanga police to provide medical and psychosocial support for the victims. Amid ongoing rescue efforts, PNP personnel have also been directed to coordinate closely with local government units and other agencies to properly account for all casualties and survivors.
The incident involved a nine-story structure under construction along Teodoro Street that collapsed before dawn on Sunday, prompting a massive emergency response from rescue units across Central Luzon. In a separate statement, the Department of the Interior and Local Government reported that a total of 267 personnel remain deployed on-site, including members of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Special Rescue Force, Emergency Medical Service teams, and augmentation units from various nearby regions.
Rescue trucks, ambulances, firetrucks, technical rescue equipment, and specialized assets continue to operate under highly dangerous and unstable conditions as responders work tirelessly to locate and retrieve those trapped beneath the rubble. "We recognize the extraordinary courage of our rescuers who continue to place themselves in harm's way under extremely dangerous conditions to save others," stated the DILG.
As of 12 noon on Monday, authorities have recorded 26 individuals successfully rescued, four confirmed fatalities, and 17 individuals still missing.
