THE Chinese Embassy and Philippine Sanjia-Steel Corporation have denounced the May 15-16 raid on the firm’s Misamis Oriental plant, calling the detention of 69 Chinese workers ‘irregular, discriminatory, and inhumane.’
The operation, led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) with the NBI, AFP, Coast Guard, and Bureau of Immigration, was carried out under search warrants issued by a Cagayan de Oro court.
Authorities alleged immigration, labor, and nuclear safety violations, claiming most of the Chinese nationals lacked permits and that traces of radioactive thorium were found in raw materials.
Officials further accused the plant of producing contaminated, substandard steel and flagged its proximity to a naval dock project as a possible security risk.
Both the embassy and Sanjia Steel issued detailed rebukes, warning of the raid’s chilling effect on the Philippine economy.
In a statement released by its law firm, Sanjia Steel alleged that authorities failed to furnish a search warrant despite repeated requests, barged into offices, broke doors, and seized employees’ phones.
Counsel was ‘repeatedly denied access’ to the facility and detained clients.
‘Based on the statements from our employees, they were detained and subjected to coercion and pressured to admit to the conduct of illegal activities. Their personal phones were also confiscated, leaving them with no access to their families and counsel,’ Sanjia Steel said.
The company also rejected Department of Labor claims that only 18 of the 69 had alien permits. It said all Chinese technicians were ‘fully and properly documented.’ In a media briefing at the Chinese Embassy in Makati City, Minister-Counsellor Zhou Zhiyong presented records showing 57 held Special Work Permits and 12 had valid 9G visas.
On accusations of radioactive contamination, Sanjia Steel insisted on strict ‘non-use of radioactive sources or feedstock,’ stressing thaht it imports high-quality raw materials from Japan.
‘Any statement regarding ‘non-use of radioactive materials’ refers to the absence of intentional use,’ it said, adding support for ‘all lawful inspections and scientific verification processes.’ Minister-Counsellor Zhou, meanwhile, dismissed national security concerns over the plant’s proximity to a naval dock, noting the facility was built in 2018, ‘likely predating the dock’s construction.’
The firm also clarified that businessman Tony Yang had ‘fully divested his shares’ years ago and has no current affiliation. It said their 2025 filings at the Securities and Exchange Commission no longer list Yang as one of their shareholders.
The embassy raised ‘strong suspicion of discrimination,’ citing that over 300 Filipino co-workers were freed the same day while Chinese machine operators, technicians and supervisors were profiled, detained, and flown to Manila. ‘This, for us, raises a strong suspicion of discrimination against Chinese workers. A discriminatory law enforcement practice,’ Zhou said.
Following consular visits, Zhou reported detainees confined in single cells of five to six square meters at the NBI facility in New Bilibid Prison, with 13 adult males ‘without enough space to lie down or sleep.’
Sanjia Steel warned of economic fallout, saying prolonged closure would disrupt supply chains, delay construction projects, and raise costs.
Both the company and the embassy urged government to uphold due process, act transparently, and secure the workers’ return.