The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has rejected the Chinese Embassy’s criticism of the Philippine government’s operation at Sanjia Steel Corporation, stressing that the May raid was a law-enforcement operation based on alleged violations of Philippine laws and not an action targeting Chinese nationals.
In a statement, the PAOCC said the Chinese Embassy’s remarks showed “a clear disregard for diplomatic decorum and the sovereign laws of the Philippines,” after the embassy questioned the role of Philippine authorities in the operation and raised concerns over the arrest of Chinese workers.
The Chinese Embassy had accused Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of distorting facts and questioned why Chinese workers were arrested while Filipino workers were released.
The PAOCC emphasized that the operation was conducted jointly by several Philippine law-enforcement agencies, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines provided security and logistical support.
“The Sanjia Steel operation was an inter-agency law-enforcement operation, not an action against any nationality,” the PAOCC said.
The commission also clarified that the involvement of the AFP should not be interpreted as a military operation against Chinese workers.
According to the PAOCC, differences in how individuals were treated were based on their specific circumstances and alleged compliance with Philippine immigration and labor laws, rather than their nationality.
“It is therefore inaccurate to characterize the operation as selective enforcement against Chinese nationals. For PAOCC and its partner agencies, this is purely a matter of law enforcement. No nationality is being targeted.”
The commission further stressed that being arrested or investigated does not automatically establish guilt, noting that all individuals remain entitled to due process.
"Arrest or investigation does not mean guilt, and no person, Filipino or foreign, is presumed guilty simply because of citizenship,” the PAOCC said.
The PAOCC also rejected the suggestion that authorities were focusing solely on workers. It said that if evidence establishes liability among the company’s owners, officers, managers or other responsible individuals, the appropriate agencies will pursue them under Philippine law.
The May 15 raid at Sanjia Steel in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental involved the PAOCC, PNP, AFP, NBI and other government agencies. Authorities reported that 69 undocumented Chinese nationals and one Filipino were found at the facility, while investigators also reported hazardous materials and other alleged violations.
The PAOCC maintained that the government’s actions are guided by the rule of law, individual rights and due process, regardless of nationality.
The commission also challenged the Chinese Embassy to allow the same level of public discussion about the case on Chinese social media platforms so that the Chinese public could have access to what it described as the “full, transparent facts.”
