Authorities have filed charges against 69 Chinese nationals and one Filipino arrested during a raid at a steel mill plant in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the suspects were charged for alleged violations of labor and immigration laws, nuclear safety regulations, and consumer protection statutes.
NBI said some of the foreigners arrested reportedly lacked valid alien employment permits while others had no valid passports or immigration documents.
“For violation of nuclear safety regulation, labor laws, immigrations laws and consumer protection statute. 52 of the foreign nationals were found without valid alien employment permits while 30 lack valid passport and immigration documentation the NBI further establish that Sanjia is linked to Tony Yang,” NBI Director, Atty. Melvin Matibag, said.
The suspects were brought to Manila where cases were filed through the National Prosecution Service.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said the implementation of search warrants on May 15, 2026, led to the discovery of allegedl violations involving hazardous materials, labor standards, immigration regulations, and consumer protection laws.
Based on investigation, employees allegedly worked without adequate personal protective equipment despite hazardous working conditions.
PAOCC added that several foreign workers were allegedly operating without valid permits while others failed to present valid passports.
DENIAL
In a statement, the company’s legal counsel denied the claims of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and NBI that the Chinese nationals had no documents.
The company said their Chinese personnel, whom they referred to as “Chinese technical personnel,” complied with regulatioins.
The company added that some of the raw materials used in steel production contain radioactive materials. However, it clarified that these were only at low levels and were complaint with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
PAOCC Executive Director, Undersecretary Benjamin Acorda, said authorities are still determining where these materials came from.
“With regards to paggamit ng radioactive materials, yan ang isang pinagdudugtong-dugtong pa natin… we are trying to find out saan galing ang materials na to that is contaminated,” Acorda said.
WORKERS’ PLEA
The steel plant remains closed three days after the raid, leaving at least 300 workers without pay.
They are now appealing for assistance as their families are struggling.
“Ang amo man gud diha pila ka pamilya ang magutman luoy kaayo ang mga bata bahala kami dili maka kaon ang mga bata importante,” an employee said.
The Department of Labor and Employment-Northern Mindanao (DOLE-10) assured affected employees they would receive their last salaries.
“The DOLE has allocated 296 work on TUPAD for 15days and they will be having a salary of 500 per day mao na atong immediate intervention for the affected workers,”DOLE-10 Technical Support Division Chief, Atheneus Vasallo, said.
