Balibago Rubble PressCon, Media Probe, Transpire in the Wake of Angeles City Building Tragedy
A press conference on the recent building collapse tragedy in Angeles City was held at the Legislative Building of Angeles City Hall on May 30, Saturday.
The presscon roster included Mayor Jon Lazatin II, City Administrator Atty. Noel Luzung, BFP Spokesperson FSup. Maria Leah Sajili, Special Legal Adviser Atty. Darwin Reyes, Golden Years Construction and Steel Works Corp. Legal Counsel Atty. Nico Manguerra, and the collapsed building’s legal counsel, Atty. Willie Rivera.
With various national and regional media groups huddled inside the building, the press conference began with a briefing by Angeles City Mayor Jon Lazatin II on the current status of the tragedy, including measures, plans, and coordination among the local government unit, the victim’s families, and the building contractors.
The first part of the briefing focused on LGU efforts, the status of current search, rescue, and retrieval operations, and the measures being undertaken. This report was facilitated by Mayor Jon Lazatin and BFP Spokesperson FSup. Maria Leah Sajili. As the press conference progressed, the legal counsel representing Golden Years Construction and Steel Works Corporation and the building owner provided updates on accountability efforts on their end, including financial assistance to affected families and coordination of investigations.
Lazatin stood firm in the city government’s pursuit of accountability, disclosing its intention to establish a Fact-Finding Committee to investigate the Balibago tragedy impartially.
The latter part of the press conference centered on a media probe, as various reporters were given the floor to question the roster about the incident. Several national media giants were present, including GMA 7, ABS-CBN, and News 5. Regional and Provincial media groups were also present, like GNN 44, CLTV 36, Balitang Balita, the Pampanga Journal, I-Orbit News, Sunstar Pampanga, VibeCast Pampanga, and Pampanga Press Club.
Legal counsel representing the contractor and owner were put on the spot when difficult questions were raised regarding the identities of the contractor and owner and the exact amount of financial assistance provided to the affected families. City legal adviser Atty. Darwin Reyes, on the other hand, added that two Angeles LGU officials are currently on preventive suspension to ensure an impartial investigation of the incident.
Meanwhile, the families affected by the tragedy can readily file a case against the contractor and the building owner while the fact-finding investigation is underway. As confirmed by Atty. Darwin Reyes, the affected families are the parties with legal standing to sue; hence, they are given, and will be given, legal assistance should they pursue an independent legal battle.
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On May 24, Sunday, at around 2:30 AM, a nine-story under-construction building in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, collapsed. While the search, rescue, and retrieval operations are still underway, the current death toll has now reached six (6) casualties, with others still missing.
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