CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation said it remains confident in its legal defenses and will pursue all lawful remedies following the government’s decision to halt operations at its steel plant in Tagoloan amid an ongoing national investigation.
The statement came days after operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation central office raided the company’s facility on May 15.
The plant was later inspected by Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on May 16, leading to the suspension of operations of the company, a locator under the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority.
In a statement sent to this paper on Tuesday, May 20, Sanjia said all parties should allow the legal process to proceed “fairly and objectively.”
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“The Philippines is a country of laws,” the company said, adding that it continues to place its trust in judicial institutions despite the challenges it is facing.
The company also denied allegations that its Chinese technical personnel were undocumented, insisting that all workers are “fully and properly documented.”
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Sanjia further maintained that it uses high-quality raw materials imported from Japan and sourced under strict regulatory compliance and industry standards.
However, during an online press briefing on Tuesday led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, authorities alleged that the steel plant used scrap materials from China contaminated with radioactive substances such as uranium and thorium.
Despite the allegations, the company said it remains willing to cooperate with authorities.
“We remain committed to working constructively with authorities in order to fully clarify the facts and get to the bottom of the matter,” the statement read.
The company also appealed to authorities to act with fairness and urgency to protect the rights of affected individuals and allow workers to eventually return to their livelihoods.
On Tuesday, several employees gathered outside the steel plant for a prayer rally, calling for the reopening of the facility amid fears of prolonged displacement.
Government agencies, meanwhile, assured the more than 300 affected workers that assistance would be provided through the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Labor and Employment.
