Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17868360081011786836005252.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Chinese flags are seen on buildings in the Huangpu district in Shanghai on February 20, 2025. <em>Hector Retamal, AFP/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (2nd UPDATE) </strong>— The Chinese Embassy on Saturday accused Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of &quot;distorting facts&quot; in the case of Chinese workers arrested in a steel plant in Misamis Oriental in May and asked why he was involved in a law enforcement operation.</p><p>Teodoro said in May that the raid at the industrial estate, which is under defense department supervision, was a matter of national security.</p><p>In a <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.facebook.com/ChinaEmbassyManila/posts/pfbid02mcEy2K2chDhQQF3xoFx2VzsBSJkMEfHvWRuRW2CxH7yyMmH4QmhBrVd9c5RKeaXfl">statement</a>, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng said Teodoro’s allegations against the Chinese workers and the embassy were &quot;completely unfounded.&quot;</p><p>The embassy also asked why the Chinese workers were arrested instead of company officials.</p><p>“Why were only the Chinese workers arrested, while all the Filipino workers were released on the spot?” Ji said.</p><p>He also asked why the Chinese workers were transported to Manila for detention using a military aircraft.</p><p>The embassy also disputed claims that the workers had been using personal protective equipment at the plant, alleging photos showing that were staged.</p><p>Ji said the Philippine side also failed to issue a consular notification to China or arrange consular visits despite an existing bilateral consular agreement.</p><p>&quot;Are these arrangements normal?&quot; Ji, who also said the workers were detained in cramped cells, asked.</p><p>The defense department on Sunday called the embassy statement &quot;full of questions and rhetoric.&quot;</p><p>It added it was &quot;a classic example of evasiveness and a badge of deception&quot; that implied culpability.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;ORDERED RELEASED&#x27;</strong></div><p>Ji said the Chinese Embassy had provided authorities with copies of the workers’ passports and work documents but the workers remained detained for up to 32 days.</p><p>The embassy likewise rejected Teodoro’s suggestion that the absence of documents proving the workers’ status at the time of their arrest could indicate human trafficking.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/5/26/raided-steel-plant-rejects-national-security-concerns-says-chinese-workers-legally-employed-1640">Raided steel plant rejects national security concerns, says Chinese workers legally employed</a></div><p>He also cited a May 28 resolution by Philippine prosecutors ordering the release of the Chinese nationals unless they were being held for other lawful reasons.</p><p>Despite this, Ji said, Teodoro continued to accuse the Chinese workers of engaging in illegal activities.</p><p>The Chinese Embassy said it respects Philippine judicial sovereignty and the lawful handling of cases, but opposes what it described as discriminatory or selective law enforcement against Chinese nationals.</p><p>Ji also defended the embassy’s involvement in the case, saying protecting the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese nationals is a fundamental responsibility of a diplomatic mission.</p><p>The embassy accused Teodoro of pursuing “anti-China activities” to destabilize China-Philippines relations and create tensions between the two countries.</p><p>In another statement on Sunday evening, the defense department also stressed that it is &quot;under no obligation to answer questions from any foreign government or embassy.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The latest statement from the Chinese Embassy is a blatant example of interference in Philippine internal affairs and a twisted abuse of the freedoms guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution,&quot; it also said.</p><p>&quot;It is the Chinese Embassy that is under scrutiny and being questioned here for its apparent coddling of illegal activities within the sovereign territory of the Philippines.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;SQUID TACTIC&#x27;</strong></div><p>Teodoro, in a Department of National Defense <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.facebook.com/DNDPHL/posts/pfbid088diXqSNnXtRbXSW5WfKr6AHSs7oVs53s4KDAP2JEKvmNZRohQ3D1mBfYz7DvPExl?rdid=tUZmGHqo2asK33Yl#">statement </a>said Beijing is avoiding the key issues surrounding the case.</p><p>He maintained that the Chinese individuals were involved in illegal activities, citing alleged violations involving substandard steel tainted with radiation, the dumping of untreated polluted water into rivers, and the release of toxic fumes.</p><p>Teodoro said these allegations were supported by evidence gathered by law enforcement authorities acting on valid warrants.</p><p>He also maintained that embassy officials had intervened in law enforcement processes and threatened retaliation against Filipinos, citing revelations during a Senate hearing.</p><p>Teodoro described China’s latest statement as a “squid tactic” and accused its government of threatening Filipinos with retaliation, calling this “extortion and blackmail.”</p><p>Authorities <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/5/16/69-chinese-nationals-found-illegally-working-in-steel-manufacturing-plant-1724">arrested 69 Chinese nationals and a Filipino</a> in a May 15 raid at Philippine Sanjia Steel Corp. in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.</p><p>The operation was carried out by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, National Bureau of Investigation, and police under a court-issued search warrant.</p><p>Authorities alleged immigration, labor, and public safety violations and said potentially hazardous and radioactive materials were found at the facility.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/19/misamis-oriental-steel-plant-with-60-chinese-workers-under-probe-for-national-security-risks-1614">Misamis Oriental steel plant with over 60 Chinese workers under probe for possible national security risks</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="5960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I5CFqq4uEN0?si=IhhI-P6mkLMMbbtA" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Chinese Embassy on Saturday accused Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of "distorting facts" in the case of Chinese workers arrested in a steel plant in Misamis Oriental in May and asked why he was involved in a law enforcement operation.</p>

The Chinese Embassy on Saturday accused Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of "distorting facts" in the case of Chinese workers arrested in a steel plant in Misamis Oriental in May and asked why he was involved in a law enforcement operation.

Chinese Embassy accuses Teodoro of 'distorting facts' in Sanjia Steel case

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Chinese Embassy accuses Teodoro of 'distorting facts' in Sanjia Steel case

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 16, 2026 07:52 AM PHT

|

Updated August 16, 2026 06:55 PM PHT

Read More:

Chinese Embassy Manila

Department of National Defense

Secretary Gibo Teodoro

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