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Cristina Chi - Philstar.com
August 27, 2026 | 1:17pm
Personnel are seen at Sanjia Steel Corporation in Misamis Oriental in this photo posted Aug. 20, 2026, following an inter-agency law enforcement operation that the PAOCC says involved possible immigration and labor law violations.
Radyo Pilipinas
MANILA, Philippines — The government is being urged to press ahead with its investigation of Chinese-linked steel plants despite reported attempts to pressure it over the detention of Chinese workers.
Think tank Stratbase Institute said on Wednesday, August 26, that the government must not allow foreign governments or interests to influence how it pursues action against alleged violations by steel manufacturing facilities.
Chinese-linked steel plants have caught the government's attention after raids in past months uncovered suspected radioactive materials and substandard steel products.
This month, a joint raid by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) at Davao Mighty Steel Corp. in Davao City found radioactive-bearing materials and steel bars that reportedly do not meet government standards.
The raid led to the removal of 174 Filipino workers from the facility. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said 21 officers, managers and administrative personnel were charged in connection with the alleged violations of the steel plant, including nine Filipinos and 12 Chinese nationals.
But the NBI said on Tuesday, August 25, that the Davao operation was only the latest in a wider crackdown, with about 20 other steel plants across the country now under surveillance for possible violations of product and workplace safety standards.
Stratbase President Dindo Manhit said reported threats to arrest Filipinos in China if Chinese workers detained during the raids were not released raised concerns about a foreign country's possible interference with law enforcement.
“No foreign government can dictate how Philippine agencies and courts enforce domestic laws or intimidate officials carrying out their duties,” Manhit said.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission posted photos Aug. 21, 2026 of Filipino workers of the Sanjia Steel Corporation, who it says "were documented working without Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)," while "Chinese workers were provided complete PPE."
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission
Manhit urged the government to pursue the investigations transparently, observe due process and hold those found responsible accountable.
Law enforcement action should not be recast as an attack on one nationality, Manhit said.
"Legitimate Philippine enforcement must not be mischaracterized as xenophobia, nor should Chinese nationals or Filipino-Chinese communities be unfairly targeted," he added.
The issue has also become entangled with broader tensions between Manila and Beijing, over the West Philippine Sea.
Manhit cited China’s sanctions against Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro in June over his statements and positions on the West Philippine Sea as an example of how pressure from Beijing could affect Philippine officials.
The raids have also triggered accusations from Beijing that Manila is unfairly singling out Chinese workers.
On August 20, the Department of National Defense and PAOCC rejected allegations from the Chinese Embassy in Manila that authorities selectively targeted Chinese workers during the May raid of a steel facility by Sanjia Steel.
PAOCC said the raids were routine, court-authorized law enforcement actions targeting alleged violations of Philippine laws rather than any specific nationality.
