Retrieval and clearing operations officially began on Tuesday after the search and rescue for the missing victims of the building that collapsed in Pampanga early Sunday was terminated on Monday night.

This was announced by the Angeles City Information Office on Tuesday morning.

Four persons, including a Malaysian, died while 26 were rescued and 17 remained missing, the Department of Interior and Local Government said.

The victims were trapped after a nine-storey under construction building located along Teodoro Street in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga, collapsed before dawn Sunday.

According to the Angeles City Information Office, the "Incident Action Plan" for the retrieval and clearing operation was led by Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II.

The Unified Command System (UCS) ended the search and rescue operations at the site at 8:27 pm last Monday.

"The decision was reached following the final assessment conducted using a Life Locator by the team from the Pasig City Local Government Unit, which consistently indicated no signs of life within the affected area," the office said.

"Based on these findings, the Incident Command System (ICS) had made the decision to cease the rescue efforts," it added.

Lazatin directed all retrieval teams to continue exercising proper handling of the victims’ remains throughout the recovery process. Robina Asido/PHS