By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), together with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), is investigating the links of a raided steel plant in Misamis Oriental to individuals in both the private and government sectors.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, PAOCC Executive Director Usec. Benjamin Acorda Jr. and NBI Director Melvin Matibag said executives of Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation have connections with several individuals in government and private institutions in the country.
Matibag said authorities are searching for at least five incorporators of Sanjia—three Filipinos and two Chinese nationals—as part of the ongoing investigation.
“Those who will be found responsible for this, will also be met with cases that we have filed, including government officials, or former government officials who participated on the operation,” he said.
Acorda said the 69 arrested individuals, all Chinese nationals, are now under the custody of local authorities and are awaiting charges for violations of Republic Act 12305 or the Philippine Nuclear Energy and Safety Act.
The suspects also face possible charges for violations of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act, Presidential Decree 442 or the Labor Code, and pertinent immigration laws.
Authorities said the steel facility used scrap materials from China contaminated with hazardous radioactive elements such as Uranium 238, Thorium 228, and Thorium 232—all classified as highly radioactive materials.
“It is about exposing the disturbing realities uncovered inside Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation—realities that point to serious and deeply concerning violations involving possession of hazardous materials, labor standards, immigration laws, and consumer protection regulations,” Acorda said.
“And in the past, there were many issues, incidents, and violations that were found in our record but we are trying to check all these things so we can give you more complete details of these violations,” he added.
At least 316 workers were displaced after authorities raided and suspended operations at Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on May 16.
Matibag said authorities also “rescued” 120 Filipino workers from the factory.
“Yung mga Filipino workers, they’re not wearing protective gear. But the Chinese nationals na nahuli, they’re wearing protective gear. So, there’s already the idea na itong company, they knew na may radioactive [material]… That’s why we used the term rescued,” Matibag said.
Despite this, Department of Health–Health Emergency Management Bureau Director Bernadette Velasco said none of the rescued Filipino workers showed acute symptoms of radiation exposure.
Meanwhile, Department of Labor and Employment Legal Affairs chief Felipe Egargo Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development Spokesperson Asec. Irene Dumlao said their agencies are providing livelihood and psychosocial interventions to the affected workers.
The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) said elevated radiation readings were detected in certain parts of the facility, including warehouses and production areas.
Matibag also raised concerns over the alleged substandard quality of steel bars sold by the company, warning that the products may have already been used in infrastructure projects, posing potential health and safety risks to the public.
“Subsequent laboratory examinations and confirmatory testing conducted by the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards allegedly revealed multiple failures in mass variation, elongation, and surface deformation requirements, raising serious concerns regarding structural integrity and public safety,” Matibag said.
“These findings indicated the possible circulation of substandard construction materials that could compromise buildings, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure,” he added.
The steel plant is reportedly owned by Tony Yang, brother of former economic adviser Michael Yang. The siblings have been linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators.
Matibag said the company began operations on Oct. 17, 2018.
