Several workers of a steel mill company in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental staged a rally outside their workplace after authorities enter the company compound to serve a search warrant for alleged illegal activities.

Employees gathered to call for the resumption of the company’s operations after their work was halted for nearly two days following the operation conducted by personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday, May 15. 2026.

One of the workers who has worked at the company for more than five years said employees are worried about where they would find new jobs if the company remains closed.

“Asa nami mangapply og trabaho? Laktod nga storya kaning…murag dako-dako gyud ni sila og sweldo sa amoa ang pangutana ani asa naman mi paingon ani unsaon mani namo?” a worker, Albert Castro, said.

Castro claimed that he had not witnessed any illegal activity inside the facility.

“Sulod sa lima ka tuig nako nga pagtrabaho dani, tarong ang among trabaho dani sir walay mga dautan ang benepisyo kumpleto,” Castro added.

According to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, during the operation, authorities discovered several male Chinese nationals who are believed to be undocumented immigrants.

Authorities are also investigating the possible hazardous chemicals within the facility.

Teodoro said the government would review the operations inside the Phividec Industrial Estate and determine whether environmental or other violations had been committed.

“Kaya ako andito kasi ito Phividec ito hindi dapat nangyayari ito dito. So sakin sa Phividec rereviewhin ko lahat ng operations nyan at sinabi ko na kay Presidente dahil semi-autonomous yan pero sa ngayon ganito ang nangyayari,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro said that the Office of the Civil Defense-Northern Mindanao (OCD-10) and other agencies have been tasked to assist employees who may lose their jobs.

Operations at the steel mill remain suspended, as of this writing, pending the ongoing investigation by authorities.

“No operation definitely until we find out until the court exposes want happens here and if what happens here is by nature the process is polluting etc this will close but the people affected will be attended to immediately,” Teodoro said.