TAGOLOAN, Misamis Oriental — Authorities shut down a steel processing plant in Barangay Baluarte following a court-backed operation that led to the detention of 69 Chinese nationals and one Filipino, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged violations of immigration, labor, environmental, and public safety laws.

Officials said the operation was carried out by joint units of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), among others, after a search warrant was served at the compound of Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the facility’s steel manufacturing and smelting operations have been ordered closed while investigations continue.

“This factory will remain closed until the courts decide what to do with it. This site is already a crime scene,” Teodoro said.

Authorities said the operation stemmed from reports of suspected undeclared and hazardous materials inside the facility, as well as concerns over possible substandard operations that may pose risks to workers and nearby communities.

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Investigators also recovered materials described as hazardous and are validating possible links to broader violations, including immigration and workplace safety compliance.

Teodoro said authorities are also examining possible human trafficking concerns following the discovery of foreign nationals inside the compound.

Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation has been previously linked to alleged offshore gaming-related personalities, though officials stressed that all findings remain subject to validation and due process.

The 22.7-hectare facility inside the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority estate employs around 400 to 600 workers, many of whom staged a picket outside the plant after operations were halted.

Workers expressed anxiety over their livelihoods, with some saying the shutdown left them without immediate income alternatives.

“I earn P30,000 a month. Where will I find work that pays the same?” said Alberto Reyes, 37, a father of three.

Teodoro said the Office of Civil Defense has been directed to coordinate with the Department of Labor and Employment to assist affected workers and explore alternative employment options while the investigation continues.