Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday said the search and rescue operations for the remaining persons trapped inside a collapsed building in Pampanga will continue despite a previous announcement by local officials to shift the operation to retrieval and cleaning.

''It is still a search and rescue operation. We are not losing hope that there are individuals who are still alive inside the rubble,'' he told reporters in an interview in Angeles City.

Four persons were reported dead and 27 were rescued. At least 16 persons are missing from the building that gave way early Sunday.

Last Tuesday, Angeles City officials said the operation will shift to retrieval and clearing operation after ending the search and rescue on Monday night.

They based their assessment after using a life locator device by a team from Pasig City, which consistently showed no signs of life in the affected area.

Remulla cited an incident in Baguio where survivors were found after being trapped in rubble for two weeks.

''It will not stop. Okay, we will continue. Support here will continue. The mayor, the BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection), the PNP (Philippine National Police) and all other agencies are working together to finish all this,'' said Remulla. Robina Asido/PHS