ANGELES CITY — Newly appointed Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Francis Tolentino and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. made separate visits at ground zero of the collapsed building in Barangay Balibago here on May 27.
Tolentino earlier placed DOLE Region 3 director Geraldine Panlilio under preventive suspension for a month in line with the investigation on the collapse of building which was issued a work stoppage order in September 2025 due to occupational safety and health violations but subsequently lifted after found to have complied with requirements.
Remulla who met with the unified command management at the site led by Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will undertake an investigation on the possible criminal liability and negligence of the city engineer and the city building official regarding the collapse of the building.
This, even as he clarified that no individual or group can yet be held accountable until the full investigation is completed.
He emphasized that authorities are still determining the exact cause of the incident, adding that qualified engineers will be deployed to assess the structure and identify possible violations and that the contractor and building owner will be summoned.
Punto News Team/Photos: Angeles CIO, CLMA-Pampanga