MANILA – The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has defended the inter-agency operation at Sanjia Steel, rejecting the Chinese Embassy’s characterization of the enforcement action and stressing that the operation was not directed at Chinese nationals.

In a statement Thursday, the PAOCC said the remarks from the Chinese Embassy showed “a clear disregard for diplomatic decorum and the sovereign laws of the Philippines,” arguing that diplomatic representatives should not lecture Philippine authorities on lawful domestic operations.

The commission also challenged the embassy to make the same discussion publicly available on Chinese social media platforms so the Chinese public could have access to what it described as the full facts surrounding the operation.

According to the PAOCC, the Sanjia Steel operation involved multiple law enforcement agencies acting within their respective mandates. The Armed Forces of the Philippines provided security and logistical support but did not conduct the operation as a military action against Chinese workers, the commission said.

The PAOCC also clarified that the treatment of individuals involved in the operation was based on their specific circumstances and possible compliance with Philippine immigration and labor laws, rather than their nationality.

It stressed that being arrested or investigated does not establish guilt and that both Filipino and foreign nationals are entitled to the presumption of innocence and due process.

“Arrest or investigation does not mean guilt, and no person, Filipino or foreign, is presumed guilty simply because of citizenship,” the commission said.

The investigation also extends beyond workers, with the PAOCC saying owners, officers, managers and other responsible individuals could face appropriate action if evidence establishes their liability.

The commission maintained that the operation should not be viewed as selective enforcement against Chinese nationals.

“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 rule of law, individual rights, and due process remain paramount at all times,” it said.