Camille Naredo

Government rescuers and local officials check on residents and businesses affected by the building collapse in Barangay Balibago, Angeles, Pampanga on May 25, 2026. Jonathan Callona, ABS-CBN News

Government rescuers and local officials check on residents and businesses affected by the building collapse in Barangay Balibago, Angeles, Pampanga on May 25, 2026. Crews are currently working to restore internet and utility lines, though surrounding residential homes remain without electricity due to downed power lines.
Jonathan Callona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

PAMPANGA BUILDING COLLAPSE

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177980371213020260525-angeles-pampanga-building-collapse-JC9946.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Government rescuers and local officials check on residents and businesses affected by the building collapse in Barangay Balibago, Angeles, Pampanga on May 25, 2026. Jonathan Callona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Government rescuers and local officials check on residents and businesses affected by the building collapse in Barangay Balibago, Angeles, Pampanga on May 25, 2026. <em>Jonathan Callona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>ANGELES CITY, Pampanga -- The Angeles City government on Tuesday called on the owner and contractor of the collapsed nine-story building in Barangay Balibago to surface and cooperate with authorities.</p><p>Officials warned that accountability would be pursued amid a full investigation into possible negligence behind the tragedy.</p><p>In a statement read by Angeles City information officer Jay Pelayo IV on behalf of Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II, the local government stressed that those responsible for the collapse must answer if negligence is proven.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/5/26/18-still-missing-in-pampanga-building-collapse-as-retrieval-ops-start-0942">READ: 18 still missing in Pampanga building collapse as retrieval ops start</a></div><p>&quot;The Angeles City Mayor Carmelo &#x27;Jon&#x27; Lazatin II calls on the contractor and the owner to show up and cooperate with the authorities. If negligence caused this tragedy, those responsible must answer for it,&quot; Pelayo read from the mayor&#x27;s statement.</p><p>&quot;The government&#x27;s duty does not end at the incident site. The families of the victims deserve answers. The authorities deserve cooperation. The public deserves accountability. And accountability begins with showing up,&quot; the statement added.</p><p>The mayor also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the collapse, including scrutiny of permits and possible lapses involving local government offices.</p><p>Authorities said a composite investigation team composed of engineers and independent experts has already been convened to determine the cause of the collapse and assess possible regulatory violations.</p><p>Pelayo said all angles, including possible negligence involving local officials, would be examined.</p><p>&quot;Lahat po &#x27;yan, sisilipin. Sabi nga ni Mayor John Lazatin, no stones will be left unturned. Kapag nagpagawa ng isang comprehensive investigation, lahat po &#x27;yan, hihimayin lahat,&quot; he said.</p><p>The city government also revealed that the owner has yet to personally appear before authorities since the incident.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/5/26/victims-kin-in-pampanga-building-collapse-hope-pray-for-survivors-1854">READ: Victims&#x27; kin in Pampanga building collapse hope, pray for survivors</a></div><p>&quot;First day nitong insidente, merong lumapit na nagpakilalang kaibigan lamang ng owner ng property. At iyon na iyong pinakahuling physical contact na hindi na sila nagpakita,&quot; Pelayo said.</p><p>According to Pelayo, the local government has already issued a show-cause order to the contractor, while information received by the city indicated that the owner was supposedly abroad.</p><p>&quot;According doon sa pumunta po on the first day na nagpakilalang kaibigan, nasa abroad daw iyong may-ari,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FROM SEARCH RESCUE TO RETRIEVAL OPERATIONS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-2EHJP_t_3o?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection officially shifted operations from search and rescue to retrieval and recovery after responders found no more signs of life beneath the rubble.</p><p>&quot;No further signs of life have been detected at the collapsed building site,&quot; Maria Leah Sajili said, spokesperson for the BFP in Central Luzon.</p><p>&quot;The focus is now on clearing debris to conduct safe and dignified recovery of the deceased. Protocols for the management of the dead and missing are now in full effect,&quot; she added.</p><p>Authorities said the decision came after a series of validations using rescue radars, canine units, and physical inspections by responders.</p><p>&quot;Upon series of validation, wala na pong pinapakita iyong ating equipment na signs of life, breathing, or iyong kanilang heartbeat,&quot; Sajili explained.</p><p>&quot;And then with the confirmations of our canine dogs, and confirmation of our rescue personnel na bumaba to check talaga kung meron pa, that would be the time na they rendered report to our responsible officer to seek clearance to declare that we would now stop the search and rescue operation and we will now proceed to retrieval and clearing operation,&quot; she said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/5/26/dog-comes-out-alive-from-collapsed-building-in-pampanga-1329">READ: Dog comes out alive from collapsed building in Pampanga</a></div><p>As of Tuesday night, authorities reported around 47 affected individuals, including 26 rescued survivors and four confirmed fatalities, while approximately 16 others remained unaccounted for and were believed trapped beneath the debris.</p><p>Sajili said retrieval operations would continue overnight with additional lighting installed at the site, unless conditions become too dangerous for responders.</p><p>The BFP also defended the pace of operations following public criticism, emphasizing the extreme instability of the collapsed structure and the danger of triggering secondary collapses.</p><p>Responders said they initially relied on manual clearing, silence periods, and careful dismantling of debris instead of aggressive use of heavy equipment to avoid endangering trapped victims and rescue teams.</p><p>Sajili said cranes were now being used in a controlled manner to slowly lift portions of scaffolding and debris after engineers assessed the stability of the site.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_R5UsDxIuHQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>The Angeles City government on Tuesday called on the owner and contractor of the collapsed nine-story building in Barangay Balibago to surface and cooperate with authorities.</p>

The Angeles City government on Tuesday called on the owner and contractor of the collapsed nine-story building in Barangay Balibago to surface and cooperate with authorities.

Owner, contractor urged to surface as Angeles building collapse death toll rises

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Owner, contractor urged to surface as Angeles building collapse death toll rises

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 26, 2026 09:57 PM PHT

Read More:

Angeles City

Pampanga

death toll

collapsed building

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