CAGAYAN DE ORO — “What exactly does ‘use’ of Sanjia Steel for military exercises entail?”
Arnold Padilla, spokesperson of the International League of Peoples’ Struggles (ILPS) Philippines, raised this question following the recent presence of American military personnel in a raided steel manufacturing company in Barangay Baluarte, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
The United States (U.S.) Embassy in the Philippines confirmed the visit of US military personnel to the Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation in coordination with the Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corporation (Phividec)-Industrial Authority, a government-owned and controlled corporation. Sanjia Steel is located within the 3,000-hectare Phividec.
It said the visit’s objective was to assess the facility’s “potential for use” for the joint Philippine-U.S. Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercise next year.
For Padilla, this activity raises questions about national sovereignty and the increasing US military forces in the country. “It confirms that the U.S. is actively assessing Philippine civilian and industrial facilities for possible use in joint military exercises. This is yet another indication of how deeply the Philippines is being integrated into the U.S. war machine,” he told Bulatlat.
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In May, authorities raided the steel plant due to alleged illegal hazardous chemicals.
The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) reportedly detected radioactive materials from the imported scrap metals used by the company to manufacture steel bars. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a cease-and-desist order and cancelled Sanjia Steel’s Environmental Compliance Certificate.
“Who authorized the U.S. military to assess the facility? What other civilian and industrial facilities are being considered for Balikatan?” the ILPS Philippines spokesperson further asked.
Authorities also raided the Davao Mighty Steel Corporation on August 13 due to the same allegations.
In a statement, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Southern Mindanao slammed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after it stated in its release that the said operation resulted in the “rescue” of 174 Filipino workers. “If this was truly a rescue operation, where is the rescue for workers who now face unemployment, uncertainty, and the prospect of feeding their families without a steady income?”
Rauf Sissay of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Southern Mindanao acknowledged the health concerns raised pertaining to these raided firms. However, he pointed out that it is a multifaceted concern, urging the government to provide alternatives to the affected workers.
Several employees of the Sanjia Steel filed a labor case with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) seeking back pay and other benefits, Teresita Hadman, Northern Mindanao coordinator for the National Federation of Labor Unions-KMU, told Bulatlat.
The plan Naval Base of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is also eyed to be established within the state-owned Phividec. In a video report by Bombo Radyo Cagayan de Oro, Phividec Administrator Joseph Donato Bernedo said the military wanted to particularly establish the Naval Base between the FDC Misamis Power Corporation and SPI Power Incorporated, formerly STEAG State Power Incorporation, near the raided Sanjia Steel.
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Hadman did not rule out the possibility that the raid in Sanjia’s facility may have something to do with the proposed establishment of a naval base. (RVO)
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