Angeles City to pursue cases after report cites overloaded supports in Balibago collapse
The city’s final fact-finding report identifies overstressed columns and piles as the most likely cause of the deadly May collapse. Officials say appropriate cases will be pursued, subject to due process.
ANGELES CITY, Sept. 25, 2026 – The Angeles City government plans to pursue legal action after completing its fact-finding task force report on the May 24 collapse of a nine-story building under construction in Barangay Balibago. The city’s latest report says 30 people died in the disaster.
City legal adviser and task force special legal adviser Darwin Reyes said the local government would pursue appropriate cases against parties who may be held accountable. He emphasized that any criminal or civil liability remains subject to due process and court determination.
Report points to overloaded structural supports
Based on the evidence and technical assessments, the task force identified excessive stress on the building’s columns and piles as the highly probable main cause of the collapse. The report said the loads exceeded those structural elements’ capacity. Their failure led to a progressive collapse.
Investigators also cited alterations and additional structural members introduced during construction, including steel beams and floor framing. The added elements increased the building’s weight beyond what the original design accounted for. Construction methods and detailing errors were also listed as contributing factors.
The collapse damaged nearby establishments along Teodoro Street. The city government said it incurred ₱9.67 million for search, rescue, retrieval, and clearing operations.
DOLE upholds ₱11.49 million in liabilities
In a separate labor proceeding, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) upheld ₱11.49 million in liabilities involving Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corp. and Ernest Jackson Lim. The amount covers worker claims and administrative fines related to occupational safety and health violations.
The Philippine News Agency reported that ₱1.17 million of the total covers unpaid wages during a work-stoppage order, underpaid wages, rest-day premiums and holiday pay. The remaining ₱10.32 million consists of administrative fines for safety violations.
DOLE cited failures to provide personal protective equipment, secure permits for mechanical lifting equipment, deploy required safety officers and first aiders, and provide temporary accommodation for workers. The agency also reported fake or invalid certificates for the project’s designated first aider and safety officer. It said the violations reflected persistent and willful non-compliance with occupational safety requirements.
NBI separately traces recovered steel bars
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is conducting a separate inquiry into steel products. At a Senate hearing, the bureau said reinforcing bars recovered from the rubble were traced to Chuangxing Steel Inc., a plant under investigation over allegations involving substandard steel products.
That steel-tracing finding is separate from the city task force’s conclusions. The reporting reviewed does not identify it as a cause established in the city’s final report.
The city says it will use the completed fact-finding process to pursue its next legal steps. Any liability arising from the collapse will remain subject to the relevant proceedings and court determination.