Biz groups back probe into shuttered Misamis steel plant

MANILA, Philippines — Several business organizations have thrown their support behind the government’s investigation into Philippine Sanjia Steel Corp., the Chinese-run firm whose Misamis Oriental plant was shuttered after radioactive materials were found within the facility.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the groups, including the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (Pisi), expressed “serious concern” over the issue, saying it warrants an investigation that should be conducted “thoroughly, lawfully and objectively.”

They said the case has gone beyond alleged labor and regulatory violations and now raises broader questions about regulatory oversight, public safety and national security.

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READ: Raided steel plant in Misamis shutdown

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“This is a serious matter involving allegations of possible violations that should be fully investigated and resolved in accordance with law,” the groups said in a statement. “Any oversight failures should likewise be reviewed and addressed.”

Signatories

The joint statement was signed by the Federation of Philippine Industries, Global AI Council PH, Institute of Corporate Directors, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Pisi.

READ: PNRI: ‘Radioactive material’ found at steel plant in Misamis Oriental

The groups also expressed support for the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Department of National Defense, National Bureau of Investigation and Armed Forces of the Philippines in pursuing the investigation.

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“We urge them to pursue the facts thoroughly, lawfully and objectively and to take appropriate action wherever violations are established by competent authorities and courts,” they said. “There must be no undue interference and all actions should remain guided by evidence, due process and the public interest.”

Beyond the Sanjia case, the organizations also pushed for a review of regulatory compliance, safety standards and oversight mechanisms for industrial operations, particularly those located in sensitive or strategic areas.

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They further urged Congress to consider reforms on hazardous materials management, labor protection, national security and regulatory oversight where gaps are identified through the investigation.

“We remind all stakeholders that economic progress cannot exist without public safety, rule of law and institutional integrity,” the groups said.

The statement was issued after the government shut down Sanjia’s 22.6-hectare plant at the Phividec Industrial Estate, one of the country’s largest industrial estates, managed by the government-owned and controlled corporation, Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corp. Industrial Authority.

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Sanjia is operated by a company linked to Chinese businessman Tony Yang, who was arrested in 2024 for faking his Filipino citizenship. /cb