Angeles building collapse death toll now at 28

ANGELES CITY, Philippines — The death toll from the collapsed nine-story building here rose to 28 on Saturday night, the Bureau of Fire Protection in Central Luzon reported.

The body of the victim was retrieved around 9:56 p.m. on the 14th day after the building’s collapse. 

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II said the victim was pulled out from the third quadrant of the building and was properly handled for documentation and identification processes.

Search, rescue, retrieval and clearing operations continue at Ground Zero.

Meanwhile, two more relatives of the victims have filed cases of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide on Friday against the structure’s owner Ernest Jackson Lim and Johnson Cu and the incorporators of Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corp. identified as Johnny Reyes, Joel Cu, Jenny Reyes and Jefferson Cu.

Included in the cases filed were structural engineer Joel Hoh Young and site engineer Arlou Nondong Ligsanan.

The complainants were Romel Pastor, the sibling of Renanante Pastor, a construction worker who died in the incident, and Jamaica Samson Angcao whose parents, vendors Elsa and Joey Angcao, also perished.

These were the second of the cases filed at the Angeles City Office of the Prosecutor against the owner and contractor of the building.

The first case was filed on May 28 by Maricel Loto Sapungay, mother of Mark Lawrence, one of the victims.  

Meanwhile, former Narvacan mayor Chavit Singson deployed a mobile kitchen in Barangay Balibago to provide meals for rescuers, volunteers, affected families and residents impacted by the collapse.

The kitchen is expected to serve approximately 2,000 servings of hot arroz caldo as rescue and recovery operations continue at the incident site.

The deployment of the mobile kitchen underscores a commitment to supporting those on the frontlines of the rescue efforts, as well as families and community members coping with the aftermath of the tragedy.

Beyond providing food, the initiative serves as a gesture of solidarity and compassion during a difficult period for the people of Balibago.