Authorities have warned the public and members of the media to be cautious of individuals falsely claiming to be victims or survivors of the recent building collapse in Angeles City, Pampanga, after a man was found to have allegedly fabricated his involvement in the tragedy to obtain financial assistance.
In an advisory, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II denounced attempts to take advantage of the disaster, saying such actions undermine relief efforts and add to the distress already being experienced by affected families.
“This is a very painful incident that has deeply affected many families. A lot of people have suffered and continue to suffer because of this tragedy,” Lazatin said.
“What we need right now is empathy, honesty and understanding- not exploitation,” he added.
The warning came after a man drew attention online by claiming he had survived the collapse of a nine-story building in Barangay Balibago. City officials said the individual allegedly invented a story that he had been purchasing beer near the area when the structure suddenly gave way.
Investigators later discovered that the man had received financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on May 27 after presenting himself as one of those affected by the incident. Authorities began looking into his claims after he reportedly sought additional assistance, raising questions about his identity and connection to the disaster.
A follow-up investigation conducted by the Angeles City Police Office determined that the man was neither among the survivors nor related to any of the confirmed victims. Police further found that he was not a resident of Angeles City.
During questioning, he eventually admitted that he had fabricated the account, investigators said. The individual has been placed in police custody while authorities prepare the necessary charges in connection with the alleged deception.
Lazatin also appealed to the public to verify information before sharing it on social media, warning that the spread of false claims could create confusion and interfere with ongoing response efforts.
Meanwhile, the number of fatalities from the building collapse increased to six on Friday after rescuers recovered another body from the debris.