CIDG Forms Fact-Finding Team to Probe Angeles City Nine-Story Building Collapse

Category: Breaking News

MANILA — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has deployed a specialized fact-finding team to Angeles City following the October 15 collapse of a nine-story building under construction in Barangay Malabanias. The move signals an escalation from routine local inquiries to a national-level criminal probe focused on possible violations of building codes, negligence, and potential corruption in project approvals.

The Collapse and Immediate Aftermath

At approximately 2:40 p.m., the structure at the corner of MacArthur Highway and Nepo Street pancaked during concrete pouring on the eighth floor. Eight construction workers died, and fifteen others sustained injuries ranging from fractures to internal trauma. Rescue teams from the Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion recovered the last body after 18 hours. The building was intended as a mixed-use hotel and condominium project valued at PHP 480 million, developed by a firm linked to a former city councilor.

Survivors described sudden vibrations followed by the sound of rebar snapping. One mason, who asked not to be named, recounted pouring concrete when support beams gave way. “We knew the scaffolding was old, but the contractor said we had to meet the deadline,” he said. Local police initially classified the incident as an accident, yet the rapid mobilization of CIDG indicates higher authorities see possible criminal liability.

CIDG Mandate and Investigative Scope

CIDG Director Brigadier General Ronaldo O. Magtibay ordered the formation of a 12-member team headed by Colonel Elena P. Santos. The group will examine engineering plans, material test results, and the chain of permits issued by the city engineering office. Santos confirmed the team will coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Office of the Ombudsman. “We are treating every angle—criminal negligence, falsified documents, and possible graft—as equally important,” she stated.

Investigators have already secured original blueprints and load calculations from the developer. Early findings show the project used 16-millimeter rebar in columns rated for 20 millimeters, a deviation that structural engineers say could reduce load capacity by nearly 30 percent. The team is also tracing whether city inspectors conducted mandatory weekly visits or merely signed off on paperwork.

Background on Angeles City Construction Practices

Angeles City has experienced rapid vertical growth since the expansion of the Clark Freeport Zone. Between 2020 and 2024, the city issued permits for 47 buildings taller than six stories. A 2023 Commission on Audit report flagged 12 of those projects for incomplete geotechnical studies. The collapsed building’s soil test report, obtained by Global1 News, lists a bearing capacity of 180 kPa, yet independent borings conducted after the incident measured only 110 kPa in the same lot.

Former city engineer Roberto L. Villanueva, who retired in 2022, told this reporter that political pressure often overrides technical objections. “Contractors with connections submit plans at 5 p.m. and expect approval by 9 a.m. the next day,” he said. Such shortcuts have previously led to smaller incidents, including a 2021 crane collapse that injured four workers but resulted in no criminal charges.

Expert Perspectives on Structural Failures

Dr. Miriam C. Tolentino, a structural engineering professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, reviewed photographs of the debris. She noted diagonal cracks in the shear walls consistent with progressive collapse triggered by column failure. “The absence of adequate lateral bracing during the concrete pour is a textbook violation,” she explained. Tolentino added that Philippine building codes require continuous inspection when pouring above the sixth floor; no such inspector appears on the daily log submitted to the city.

Human-rights lawyer Antonio G. Ramos, who has represented families in past construction deaths, stressed the need for personal accountability. “If negligence is proven, we are looking at reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, not just administrative fines,” he said. Ramos is preparing a class-action complaint on behalf of the victims’ families.

Implications for Public Safety and Governance

The CIDG probe arrives amid renewed national debate over infrastructure accountability following the 2023 collapse of a DPWH-funded bridge in Cebu. Advocates argue that criminal investigations must move beyond low-level foremen to reach project owners and approving officials. The National Union of Building and Construction Workers has called for a moratorium on high-rise permits in Angeles City until all ongoing projects undergo third-party audits.

Local officials, including Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., have pledged full cooperation. In a statement, the mayor said the city will release all permit records within 72 hours. However, transparency watchdogs note that similar pledges after earlier incidents yielded incomplete document releases. The Ombudsman’s office has already docketed a preliminary investigation into possible graft in the issuance of the building permit.

Broader Context of Construction Industry Weaknesses

Philippine construction remains one of the least regulated sectors despite repeated tragedies. The National Building Code of 1977, amended only marginally since, still relies heavily on local government enforcement. A 2024 Senate hearing revealed that only 18 percent of cities and municipalities maintain licensed structural engineers on staff. In Angeles City, the engineering office has three licensed engineers handling an average of 120 permit applications monthly.

Material testing laboratories accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry have also come under scrutiny. The lab that certified the rebar for the collapsed project lost its accreditation in August 2024 for submitting falsified calibration certificates, yet the developer continued using its reports. CIDG investigators are now determining whether city officials were aware of the lab’s status when they accepted the certificates.

Calls for Systemic Reform

Justice advocates argue that criminal probes alone cannot prevent future collapses. They demand mandatory third-party structural reviews funded by developers and published online. The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers has endorsed a bill requiring peer review for buildings exceeding five stories. Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a related measure last month that would impose five-year jail terms for officials who approve projects without verified geotechnical data.

Families of the deceased workers gathered outside the Angeles City Hall on October 17, holding placards demanding “Justice, not just condolences.” One widow, Lerma Santos, said her husband had repeatedly complained about rushed work schedules. “He told me they were pouring concrete even when the forms were still wet from rain,” she recounted. Her testimony will be part of the CIDG case file.

The investigation is expected to last at least 60 days. CIDG has requested assistance from the National Bureau of Investigation’s forensic team to analyze steel samples and concrete cores. Results will determine whether charges are filed under the Revised Penal Code or specialized laws on professional negligence.

Public trust in local infrastructure projects hangs on the outcome. Each documented shortcut erodes confidence that authorities prioritize safety over speed and profit. The Angeles City collapse is not an isolated failure but a symptom of deeper governance gaps that demand sustained scrutiny.

This is Bella Reyes for Global1 News, reporting from Manila. 🇵🇭