The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and other government agencies, searched a steel manufacturing facility in Magalang, Pampanga, on Saturday for radioactive-bearing raw materials, steel products and manufacturing waste that were reportedly stored in its premises.
The search at Chuangxing Steel Inc.’s plant in barangay Navaling was led by the NBI’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives and Foreign Malign Influence Unit, with support from the PAOCC, Department of National Defense, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), Air Force (PAF) and Coast Guard (PCG).
Search Warrants 32 to 35-2026, issued July 17 by Branch 26 of the Regional Trial Court in Cabanatuan City, cited alleged violations of Republic Act 12305, or the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act.
The warrants authorized authorities to search the facility and seize suspected radioactive-bearing materials, steel products, manufacturing waste, equipment and business records.
In a statement, the PAOCC said authorities accounted for 323 workers during the operation, including 283 Filipinos and 40 Chinese nationals. It also said investigators found what it described as a ‘substantial volume’ of radioactive-bearing raw materials, by-products and waste materials containing thorium isotopes. Samples, including finished steel products, have been submitted to the PNRI for laboratory examination to determine whether additional charges may be filed.
Four individuals were arrested during the operation: Chinese nationals Honggou Wang, Lyu Yang and Lyu Jingdong, and the company’s Filipino corporate secretary, Ma. Irish Casipe. The PAOCC also said 40 Chinese employees were placed under further immigration verification after they allegedly failed to present valid travel and work documents.
Meanwhile, Magalang Mayor Malu Lacson urged residents not to speculate while awaiting official findings from national agencies.
‘Public safety is non-negotiable. We owe our people the truth-complete, official, and supported by science. We will act on facts, not fear,’ Lacson said, adding that social media claims of ‘confirmed nuclear waste’ remain unverified.
She said the municipal government has yet to receive the NBI’s final search warrant implementation report or the official laboratory results and will act accordingly once findings are released.
In a separate statement, Chuangxing Steel said it is cooperating with the NBI and the Department of Justice and maintained that it operates with the required environmental permits and in compliance with Philippine regulations. The company also disputed the allegations involving radioactive materials, saying the matter should be determined through proper laboratory testing and legal proceedings.
As of press time, the PNRI has not released the laboratory results on the collected samples, while the NBI has yet to issue its final report on the search warrant operation.
Chuangxing Steel spokesperson Ryan Solano, in an interview on Tuesday said the company ‘received the NBI’s team and complied with the search warrant in full.’ Solano said they intend to continue cooperating with investigators while presenting its defense before the DOJ. ‘We respect the legal process, and we are confident that when the evidence is examined carefully and measured against the law, it will show that the company has operated in good faith and in compliance with Philippine regulations,’ the company said in a statement.
Chuangxing Steel said it is a duly registered Philippine corporation operating under an Environmental Compliance Certificate, current air pollution permits, a wastewater discharge permit, hazardous waste registration and other environmental clearances required by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. It also said it regularly submits self-monitoring reports to regulators.
Responding to allegations involving radioactive materials, Solano said the substances identified by authorities are naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) which are commonly found in rock, soil, and mineral materials associated with scrap-based steelmaking.
Solano said naturally occurring radioactive isotopes may be present in soil, rocks, and scrap materials but argued that the key issue is whether radiation levels exceeded limits prescribed under Philippine law.
Solano said radioactivity can be measured to determine whether it poses danger or not.
The company argued that no laboratory measurements or comparisons with regulatory limits have been publicly released and said the detection of such materials alone does not establish a violation of the law.
‘We welcome proper, transparent testing measured against the legal standards, and we are confident about what that testing will show,’ Solano said.
Solano also acknowledged public concern over reports of radioactive materials but said authorities must still establish that any legal limits were exceeded.
‘They alleged that they have found certain radioactive materials but hanggang dun lang naman. In so far as real findings that there is a violation in so far as the limits are concerned, that still has to be proven in court.’
Solano also said the company does not handle nuclear materials and maintained that its hazardous waste registration does not include radioactive waste as it does not generate such materials.