Authorities have maintained that the raid on a steel mill plant in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on May 15, 2026 was not motivated by politics.

According to the Department of National Defense (DND) and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the raid was driven by safety, environmental, and regulatory concerns – not politics, despite the company being owned by Tony Yang, the brother of Michael Young, who was the former adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“With regards sa pamomolitika, wala po sa bokabolaryo po ng PAOCC yan. Under my leadership, purely law enforcement operation po ang pananaw namin dyan,” PAOCC Executive Director, Undersecretary Benjamin Acorda, said.

“Palagay ko, sa mga may haka-haka, mabuting sagutin muna ng Sanjia ang mga violations nga nakita dito na na-uncover those are facts yung pamomolitika ay speculation,” DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro also said.

More than two weeks after personnel of PAOCC and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided the company, Acorda maintained that they had found several violations at the facility.

“The safety and dignity of Filipino workers must remain central to this case. The operation and inspections raised concerns about dust accumulation, possible hazardous materials handling and the adequacy of protective equipment workers,” Acorda said.

Because of the alleged violations, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), together with recommendations from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), has moved to cancel the company’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), a measure that could lead to the shutdown of its operations.

DND is also set to investigate the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority to determine how the plant was allowed to operate despite the alleged violations.

“Hindi pwedeng lumusot kung walang kapabayaan o kaalaman ang manager ng kahit sinong industrial estate. Ikaw let’s say ang nagtaong simple ng nagpaparenta ng bahay o ikaw ang landlord hindi mo pwedeng sabihin na ang tenant ang bahala na mag-comply sa environmental regulations o city or municipal ordinances ikaw ang may-ari ng bahay eh,” Teodoro said.

CHINESE, PINOY RELEASED

Last week, the National Prosecution Service in Manila ordered the release of the 69 Chinese nationals and one Filipino arrested during the raid after NBI failed to provide sufficient evidence to support allegations of possession, distribution, or manufacture of radioactive materials.

In a 25-page resolution, prosecutors said the alleged violations of labor, immigration, and consumer protections laws were also not established.

“Hindi po kami magbibigay ng personal na reaction dahil jurisdiction po nila yan pero sa lumalabas po dito sa mga findings namin eh ito na po ang sagot sa further investigation sa tingin ko more than sufficient na ito para masagot yun,” Teodoro said.

As for the more than 300 workers who lost their jobs, efforts are now being undertaken by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Health (DOH) to provide assistance and assess their health condition.

“So tomorrow, we will be doing the blood work to really determine kung may exposure ba talaga o kung may ill effects ba,” DOH-10 Director, Dr. Sulpicio Henry Legaspi, Jr., said.

SEPARATE ENGAGEMENT

Meanwhile, Teodoro visited Camp Evangelista in Barangay Patag, Cagayan de Oro City, to meet with troops under the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID).

Teodoro also led the recognition of several military personnel.

During his visit, Teodoro discussed the recent encounter in Negros Occidental where a soldier and 19 suspected rebels were killed.

Teodoro assured the troops that he would continue to support them in carrying out their duties.

“Tinutulungan ko po mapalawak, mapalakas, mapalago ang Armed Forces of the Philippines, makapagtatag tayo ng credible external deterrence while maintaining stable internal peace and security,” Teodoro said.