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DOLE Region 3 Chief Suspended Over Angeles Building Collapse Probe
FILE
Newly appointed Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino wasted no time making his first major decision in office after ordering the 30-day preventive suspension of DOLE Region 3 Director Geraldine Panlilio over the deadly collapse of a nine-storey building in Angeles City.
The suspension was announced Monday as the Department of Labor and Employment launched an investigation into the lifting of the work stoppage order for the unfinished structure that collapsed over the weekend, killing and injuring several workers.
In a memorandum signed by Tolentino dated May 25, 2026, Panlilio was temporarily relieved from her post as Regional Director of DOLE Region 3 while investigators determine whether the regional office failed to properly enforce occupational safety and health regulations under Republic Act No. 11058, also known as the Occupational Safety and Health Law.
The memorandum stated that the preventive suspension was necessary “to protect the integrity of the investigation.”
Assistant Regional Director Alejandro V. Inza Cruz was designated to take over Panlilio’s duties during the 30-day period.
What drew even more attention was the timing of the announcement. Panlilio was reportedly standing behind Tolentino during a media interview when the suspension was publicly revealed, appearing to hear the decision for the first time.
Despite the sudden announcement, Panlilio accepted the suspension and said she was prepared to cooperate with the investigation and comply with all directives from the department.
The collapsed structure in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, has triggered widespread scrutiny over possible lapses in construction safety inspections and government oversight. Rescue and retrieval operations continued days after the incident, with authorities still accounting for workers who may have been trapped under the rubble.
The incident has also placed pressure on government agencies overseeing workplace safety, particularly after reports surfaced that previous work stoppage orders connected to the project had already been lifted before the collapse occurred.
The suspension was announced Monday as the Department of Labor and Employment launched an investigation into the lifting of the work stoppage order for the unfinished structure that collapsed over the weekend, killing and injuring several workers.
In a memorandum signed by Tolentino dated May 25, 2026, Panlilio was temporarily relieved from her post as Regional Director of DOLE Region 3 while investigators determine whether the regional office failed to properly enforce occupational safety and health regulations under Republic Act No. 11058, also known as the Occupational Safety and Health Law.
The memorandum stated that the preventive suspension was necessary “to protect the integrity of the investigation.”
Assistant Regional Director Alejandro V. Inza Cruz was designated to take over Panlilio’s duties during the 30-day period.
What drew even more attention was the timing of the announcement. Panlilio was reportedly standing behind Tolentino during a media interview when the suspension was publicly revealed, appearing to hear the decision for the first time.
Despite the sudden announcement, Panlilio accepted the suspension and said she was prepared to cooperate with the investigation and comply with all directives from the department.
The collapsed structure in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, has triggered widespread scrutiny over possible lapses in construction safety inspections and government oversight. Rescue and retrieval operations continued days after the incident, with authorities still accounting for workers who may have been trapped under the rubble.
The incident has also placed pressure on government agencies overseeing workplace safety, particularly after reports surfaced that previous work stoppage orders connected to the project had already been lifted before the collapse occurred.
May 26, 2026
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