CIDG to probe Pampanga building collapse

MANILA, Philippines — A fact-finding team led by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has been formed to hasten the probe of the collapse of a nine-story building under construction in Angeles City, Pampanga that left four people dead and others still missing.

“We are after the facts. We will bring in qualified engineers to look into what happened and why the building collapsed,” Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla told reporters in an interview.

The body has been tasked to identify and file criminal cases against the people responsible for the building’s collapse. Among these are the owner and contractor of the building whom Remulla said could be criminally negligent for letting the construction workers sleep in the building site.

The probe will also cover city officials who might be held responsible for not inspecting the construction site properly.

Remulla, accompanied by Central Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez, inspected ongoing retrieval and clearing operations in the area and assured relatives of the 16 people who remain missing that responders are not stopping until their loved ones are found.

He clarified that the operation is still search and rescue, overriding the statement of Bureau of Fire Protection spokesperson Superintendent Maria Leah Sajili that they are now on search and retrieval mission. –  Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu