Philippines scrutinizes military role in Sanjia steel plant raid

A May 15 enforcement operation at a Chinese-linked steel plant in Misamis Oriental has sparked questions over the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ role, after 69 Chinese nationals were arrested and defense officials defended the interagency action. The dispute has also revived scrutiny of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s former Maltese citizenship and official records.

Why it matters: - The Sanjia Steel case has become more than an immigration and labor enforcement action. It has turned into a test of how far the military should be drawn into domestic regulatory operations. - The dispute is also feeding broader concerns about foreign influence, national security and transparency inside the Philippine defense establishment. - The separate citizenship controversy involving Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has kept pressure on the Department of National Defense and raised fresh demands for disclosure.

What happened: - Philippine authorities conducted an operation on May 15 at Philippine Sanjia Steel Corp. in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. - The operation led to the arrest of 69 Chinese nationals, based on Philippine media reports citing government authorities. - The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission said the raid was a lawful interagency law enforcement action. - The Armed Forces of the Philippines provided security and logistical support. - Teodoro inspected the site during the operation and later praised the participating agencies. - Teodoro also warned against attempts to interfere with the investigation, according to the Philippine News Agency. - The Chinese Embassy in Manila challenged the government’s account and questioned why Teodoro and military resources were involved. - Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng said in an Aug. 16 statement that the government was treating Chinese workers selectively. - Philippine authorities rejected that claim and said the operation targeted suspected violations of Philippine law, not nationality.

The details: - Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said at an Aug. 29 news forum that recently raided steel facilities could potentially be entry points for undocumented Chinese nationals. - Philippine authorities have not publicly established that Sanjia Steel engaged in espionage or deliberately facilitated infiltration. - GMA News and MindaNews reported that Teodoro raised concerns about Sanjia’s proximity to a Philippine Navy dry dock being built inside the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate. - Government actions against Sanjia and two other steel plants have affected Filipino workers. - The Federation of Free Workers and Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao said about 900 workers were displaced after operations against plants in Misamis Oriental, Pampanga and Davao City, according to GMA News and Philstar.com. - Sanjia’s legal counsel, Julia Chu, called the raid harassment and argued that any regulatory violations should have been handled by civilian agencies, according to GMA News.

Between the lines: - The Sanjia dispute shows how a workplace enforcement action can quickly expand into a national-security debate when Chinese nationals, military involvement and strategic infrastructure are in the same frame. - The citizenship issue adds another layer because questions about Teodoro’s foreign ties can amplify scrutiny of his decisions on security and enforcement. - Malta government records add family detail, but they do not clarify the legal questions at the center of the controversy.

What’s next: - The public debate is likely to continue as complainants pursue perjury and falsification complaints tied to Teodoro’s citizenship and passport history. - More scrutiny may fall on how the Department of National Defense documented Teodoro’s foreign citizenship, passport renunciation and disclosure to government bodies. - The Sanjia case may also keep driving calls for clearer rules on when military assets can support domestic enforcement operations.

The bottom line: - The Sanjia raid and the Teodoro citizenship dispute are separate cases, but together they have intensified demands for transparency, civilian oversight and clearer limits on military involvement in domestic enforcement. The Associated Press reported in July 2025 that the Defense Department said Teodoro had renounced his Maltese citizenship before returning to public office. - The Department of National Defense confirmed in July 2025 that Teodoro previously held Maltese citizenship and a passport. - Teodoro said he applied for Maltese citizenship in 2014 through Malta’s Individual Investor Programme while a private citizen and obtained it in 2016. - Malta Government Gazette records list “Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo Cojuangco Teodoro” in 2016, along with entries for “Jaime Gilberto Prieto Teodoro” and “Monica Louise Lopez Teodoro JR.” - The Gazette does not state the relationship among those listed, the citizenship route used by each person or whether passports were issued. - Teodoro’s wife is former Philippine congresswoman Monica Prieto-Teodoro, and their son is Jaime Gilberto Teodoro. - DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Teodoro surrendered and renounced his Maltese passport before filing his certificate of candidacy for the 2022 Senate elections. - The DND said the passport had been disclosed to the Bureau of Immigration, the Commission on Elections and later the Commission on Appointments before Teodoro’s confirmation as defense secretary in 2023. - Complainants filed perjury and falsification complaints with the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office in June 2026 seeking review of Teodoro’s citizenship and passport records, according to Philippine media reports. - The Defense Department rejected the allegations and said the complainants had not presented evidence of wrongdoing. - Republic Act No. 9225 allows natural-born Filipinos who acquire foreign citizenship to retain or reacquire Philippine citizenship under specified conditions. - For appointees to public office, Section 5 requires an oath of allegiance to the Philippines and renunciation of the oath of allegiance to the foreign country. - There has been no public finding that Teodoro violated Philippine law on citizenship status.