In response to the surprise inspections conducted on May 15th and 16th by the Philippine Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and other agencies, Triple J Steel recently issued a strongly worded official statement, completely denying accusations of "illegally manufacturing radioactive steel" and "Chinese employees working without proper permits." The statement not only detailed alleged procedural flaws and personnel detention disputes during the law enforcement operation but also revealed a key piece of information: the previously rumored "associated individual" surnamed Yang had completely divested his investment several years ago and is no longer a shareholder of the company. This incident is evolving from an "enforcement action" into a complex public opinion issue involving the rights and interests of Chinese-funded enterprises in the Philippines.
Addressing external speculation, Triple J Steel provided the most direct response in its statement: "Mr. Yang was once a shareholder but completely divested his investment several years ago and currently has no association with the company." This move aims to sever public attempts to link the event to a specific individual.
Regarding PAOCC's accusations of "radioactively contaminated steel," the company emphasized it possesses a full set of environmental permits and clarified that "not using radioactive materials" refers to not intentionally adding controlled radioactive sources. It argued that trace amounts of naturally occurring radioactive elements should not be conflated with "illegal contamination."
Details disclosed in the statement point to questions about the legality of the enforcement process: the company's lawyers repeatedly requested copies of the search warrant without success, allegedly violating basic procedural justice. Law enforcement personnel broke into multiple offices, and the facility lockdown caused an immediate halt to factory operations. Filipino employees were detained for 13 hours, while Chinese employees and one Filipino employee remain detained (at the time of the statement's release) at the NBI New Bilibid Prison. Their phones were confiscated, they were unable to contact lawyers, and there were even reports of pressure to admit to illegal activities.
In response to the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) accusation that "only 18 out of 69 foreign employees had an Alien Employment Permit (AEP)," Triple J Steel firmly denied this. The company stressed that all Chinese technical personnel hold legal documents and are engaged in machinery operation, supervision, and technology transfer—a standard setup for Chinese companies operating overseas, not ordinary labor export. Currently, a total of 70 Chinese citizens and one Filipino employee are detained, with their lawyers' visitation rights restricted.
Reportedly, Triple J Steel was established in 2018 and is one of the largest enterprises in Misamis Oriental province, employing approximately 400 to 600 regular staff. On the day of the operation, about 125 workers were on duty at the factory. Defense Secretary Teodoro and PAOCC Executive Director Benjamin Acorda were personally present at the scene to oversee the action, after which the factory area was temporarily closed and cannot resume operations until a court ruling.
The day after the search, about 50 Filipino workers gathered outside the factory gate, holding signs to protest the NBI's investigation and urging authorities to allow the factory to resume operations as soon as possible. The workers stated the factory is their primary source of livelihood, and the sudden shutdown has plunged many families into hardship. Reports indicate that the shutdown of Triple J Steel directly affected over 250 Filipino workers, and with families impacted by the closure, protest activities subsequently spread to multiple areas in Mindanao. The company stated the factory closure has resulted in unemployment for over 300 Filipino employees.
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