3 construction workers reported missing amid Philam Life building demolition confirmed dead

The bodies of the three missing construction workers were found at the site where the Philam Life building at the corner of UN Avenue and Maria Orosa Street in Manila was being demolished, police said Sunday.

According to Divine Reyes' report over Super Radyo dzBB, the bodies of construction workers identified as Richard Bugarin and Joseph Lacsa were recovered from the rubble of the building. A text message from Manila Police District Station 5 showed that the bodies were discovered at around 8:45 a.m.

Meanwhile, Arnel Angeles, chief of Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said the corpse of Jomar Torillos, the third missing construction worker, was also recovered from the site.

Contractors of the building vowed to give assistance to the families of the victims.

The three workers went missing during the demolition on Saturday while two other construction employees were sent to the hospital for their medical treatment. 

"Natabunan sila ng debris. Nasa may stairways po sila malapit sa elevator shaft. Tumakbo naman po ang mga tao, pero sa kasamaang palad naabutan ng pagbagsak ng mga bato," Manila DRRMO chief Arnel Angeles said in a report on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday.

(They were buried under the debris. They were along the stairways near the elevator shaft. They ran, but they were unfortunately caught under the falling debris).

Manila City Engineer Armand Andres has also ordered a further investigation as to why there were people inside the site, as the demolition was supposed to topple down the whole building and was supposedly cordoned off.

For its part, the Manila Police District is looking into the matter and why the report was just reported at 5:00 p.m. when the incident happened 11:00 a.m.

"Kung agarang napuntahan ang pangyayaring ito ay maaring nailigtas 'yung tatlong naipit," said Police Capitain Henry Navarro.

(If teams were deployed to the site early, the three casualties could have been saved) — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/Consuelo Marquez/KG, GMA News