Philippines frees Chinese steel plant workers from detention

Philippines frees Chinese steel plant workers from detention

The allegations against the 64 individuals include violations of nuclear safety, immigration and labour laws.

Philippine defence secretary Gilberto Teodoro launched a probe two weeks ago into the operation said to involve undocumented foreign nationals. (EPA Images pic)
BEIJING:
Sixty-four Chinese citizens detained in the Philippines have been released after the Philippine justice department ruled there was insufficient evidence for the allegations they faced, China’s embassy in the Southeast Asian country said.

The allegations against them include violations of nuclear safety, immigration and labour laws.

The Chinese citizens, who worked at a steel plant in the Misamis Oriental province, were detained on May 15.

Two weeks ago, Philippine defence secretary Gilberto Teodoro called for a full probe into an operation in that province that was said to involve undocumented foreign nationals and Filipino workers handling potentially hazardous materials.

Six more Chinese were undergoing the process to get their release, added the Chinese embassy on Friday, which said it had also lodged repeated stern representations.

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