Acting Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino placed Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region III Director Geraldine Panlilio under a one-month preventive suspension on Tuesday. The disciplinary action follows the tragic collapse of a nine-story building under construction in Angeles City, Pampanga, which left four people dead.
The suspension aims to ensure an unhindered investigation into why a previously issued work stoppage order against the developer, Golden Years Construction, was lifted despite prior safety violations.
“I am placing Director Panlilio over one-month suspension while the investigation is ongoing para maimbestigahan nang maayos kung bakit na-lift ‘yung work stoppage order, (so that we can properly investigate why the work stoppage order was lifted)” Tolentino told reporters.
According to Tolentino, the regional office had initially halted construction due to serious breaches of occupational safety and hazard regulations, specifically pointing out that laborers were improperly housed inside the active construction site.
“One of the reasons why DOLE Region 3 issued a work stoppage order was because of non-compliance with occupational, safety, and hazards regulations. Kabilang po rito, yung barracks ng mga manggagawa, construction workers, ay hindi dapat sa loob ng gusaling ginagawa, (Included here is that the barracks of the laborers, construction workers, should not be inside the building being constructed)” he said.
“Tumugon daw sila diumano nung nagkaroon ng inspection kaya na-lift yung work stoppage at nagpatuloy yung paggawa. Kaya nga tinatanong ko kay Director Panlilio kung nagkaroon ba ng mga susunod na pag-inspeksyon, baka nung na-lift yun, four stories pa lang. Ngayon nine, may swimming pool pa, (They allegedly complied when an inspection was conducted, which is why the work stoppage was lifted and construction resumed. That is why I am asking Director Panlilio if there were subsequent inspections, because when it was lifted, it might have been only four stories high. Now it is nine, and it even has a swimming pool)” Tolentino added.
In light of the incident, Tolentino announced that he is reviewing DOLE policies to mandate recurring and stricter follow-up inspections even after safety bans are revoked.
Assistant Regional Director Alejandro Inza Cruz has been designated to oversee Region III operations during Panlilio’s suspension.
Search and retrieval efforts at the disaster site officially concluded on Monday night, May 25, after emergency responders detected no further signs of life. Aside from the four confirmed fatalities, 17 individuals remain missing as authorities continue to investigate the structural failure.