NBI identified 20 steel plants making substandard, radioactive steel

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has identified 20 factories that are allegedly selling and distributing substandard and radioactive steel, director Melvin Matibag said Tuesday.

“We have identified more than 20 na steel plants na ganito. Ang ginawang efforts ng NBI at ng PAOCC at other law enforcement agencies will not end in Davao. Pupuntahan din namin ‘yung ibang lugar pa,” he said in a press briefing.

(We have identified more than 20 steel plants like this. The efforts being undertaken by the NBI, PAOCC, and other law enforcement agencies will not end in Davao. We will also visit other areas.)

Authorities previously raided the Davao Mighty Steel Corporation for allegedly selling and distributing substandard and radioactive steel.

According to Matibag, 70% of the structures that were destroyed during an earthquake in General Santos and Sarangani were from the facility.

The NBI said authorities also rescued 174 Filipino workers from the facility.

Meanwhile, a total of 194 factory personnel were examined, of which 57 had documented medical findings while two tested positive during a radioactivity scanning.

The NBI director called on contractors to and the public to check where they are getting their steel.

“‘Yung mga bumibili ng bakal, magpapatayo ng bahay, ‘yung mga contractor ng gobyerno, I’m talking to you now, please i-check niyo muna ‘yung mga binibilan ninyo kung tama ‘yung standards na ginagamit,” Matibag said.

(Those who buy steel for building houses, as well as government contractors, I’m talking to you now, please check first whether the suppliers you are buying from are using the proper standards.)

He also appealed to the public to refrain from putting color onto the operation.

“That will be unfair to the team ng NBI, PAOCC, at ng ating law enforcement agency na our people doing our job to protect the interest of the Filipino people tapos kukulayan ng politika,” he said.

(That would be unfair to the NBI, PAOCC, and our law enforcement agencies, whose people are doing their jobs to protect the interests of the Filipino people, only for their work to be politicized.)

“Ang pakiusap namin, for people to understand na this is not about political preference, this is not about kung saang region, this is not about negosyo but this is about NBI and PAOCC doing their job as a law enforcement agency to make sure na ma protektahan yung ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(Our appeal is for people to understand that this is not about political preference, this is not about which region, and this is not about business. This is about the NBI and PAOCC doing their jobs as law enforcement agencies to ensure that our fellow Filipinos are protected.) — BAP, GMA News