Manila, May 25 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated and deployed search and rescue personnel and emergency response teams to support ongoing operations in Angeles City, Pampanga, following the collapse of a building under construction over the weekend.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police force would also assist in the investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the incident "in the interest of truth and accountability."

For now, however, he said the priority remains the ongoing search and rescue operations.

Nartatez ordered the mobilization of personnel and assets to speed up the rescue of some 20 trapped victims, most of them construction workers who were on-site when the structure ...