Camille Naredo

Chinese nationals discovered working with potentially noxious or harmful materials at a steel manufacturing plant in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Misamis Oriental

Michael Delizo

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/1779782994034viber_image_2026-05-16_15-47-00-146.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Chinese nationals discovered working with potentially noxious or harmful materials at a steel manufacturing plant in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Chinese nationals discovered working with potentially noxious or harmful materials at a steel manufacturing plant in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. <em>Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The steel manufacturing plant raided in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental refuted the government’s claim of possible national security implications following the discovery of more than 60 Chinese workers allegedly involved in activities that could have implications beyond labor and regulatory concerns.</p><p>Speaking to ABS-CBN News on Tuesday, Julia Chu, legal counsel of Philippine Sanjia-Steel Corporation, said the company’s foreign employees possess proper documents and have been legally working for the firm for several years.</p><div><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">69 Chinese nationals found illegally working in Misamis Oriental steel plant</a></div><p>She also argued there was no basis to suggest they were involved in foreign interference or malign influence, as earlier insinuated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.</p><p>“On the issue of being spies, that&#x27;s a bit far from what the company is doing,” Chu said. “We don’t see any basis of that in the record of the company.”</p><p>Chu said the company complied with the process for the legal employment of Chinese nationals and is prepared to present proof of all permits and work visas issued to them.</p><p>“I don&#x27;t think there&#x27;s anything particularly wrong with employing foreign workers,” she said. “There are Chinese investors in the company. And the Chinese workers that have been employed here are the technical experts — it’s a technological transfer agreement. So, the technical aspect of the production of the steel, some of the Chinese workers are providing that.”</p><p>Authorities last week raided the 22.7-hectare steel manufacturing facility inside the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate and apprehended 69 Chinese nationals and one Filipino allegedly working with potentially harmful or noxious materials.</p><p>Five incorporators linked to Philippine Sanjia-Steel Corporation remain at large.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/5/19/authorities-trace-distribution-of-substandard-steel-after-tagoloan-plant-raid-2044">Authorities trace distribution of &#x27;substandard&#x27; steel after Tagoloan plant raid</a></div><p>Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who personally flew to Tagoloan over the weekend, said the plant was owned by Tony Yang, a Chinese businessman linked to Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) operations who was arrested in 2024 for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Filipino citizen.</p><p>Chu said Yang was a shareholder in the company but had already “totally divested” since 2024.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS&#x27;</strong></div><p>Last week’s search warrant was implemented over the alleged use of scrap materials smuggled from China that were contaminated with radioactive elements such as uranium-238, thorium-228, and thorium-232, all classified as highly radioactive materials.</p><p>Chu denied the allegations and maintained that the company’s imported materials came exclusively from Japan, adding that company records show no use of radioactive sources or feedstock.</p><p>Meanwhile, Department of Health-Health Emergency Management Bureau Director Bernadette Velasco said examinations conducted on 113 workers yielded normal clinical findings.</p><p>She also said local health teams reported to the DOH central office that they observed no acute signs of hazardous material exposure in the area.</p><p>“We have already conducted an assessment through the rural health unit in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. They have assessed 113 employees, and I am glad to say that there are no acute symptoms or any exposure,” Velasco said. “Most of them are normal, meaning to say, they don’t have any clinical complaint.”</p><p>Operations at the facility remain suspended following the raid, affecting other 300 Filipino workers.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lxydXzd1pq4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/me_z0qHxoms?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/22I7ViAbjMw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The steel manufacturing plant raided in Misamis Oriental on Tuesday refuted the government’s claim of possible national security implications following the discovery of more than 60 Chinese workers allegedly involved in activities that could have implications beyond labor and regulatory concerns.</p>

The steel manufacturing plant raided in Misamis Oriental on Tuesday refuted the government’s claim of possible national security implications following the discovery of more than 60 Chinese workers allegedly involved in activities that could have implications beyond labor and regulatory concerns.

Raided steel plant rejects national security concerns, says Chinese workers legally employed

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Raided steel plant rejects national security concerns, says Chinese workers legally employed

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 26, 2026 04:40 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Sanjia-Steel Corporation

Sanjia

Chinese

Michael Yang

Tagoloan

Misamis Oriental

Julia Chu

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