P40-M substandard construction materials seized in Laguna raid

CABUYAO CITY, Laguna, Philippines   – At least P40 million worth of allegedly substandard construction materials were seized in a raid on a warehouse in this city on Wednesday, police reported yesterday.

The materials, which included 18,000 deformed steel bars, were said to be for a housing program in Yolanda-devastated areas in Leyte.

Agents of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 4A raided the warehouse of South Luzon Steel Corp. in Barangay Banlic based on a warrant signed by Cavite Judge Lirio Castigador.

The warehouse is reportedly owned by a certain Louis Go, said CIDG 4A regional director Senior Superintendent Felipe Natividad.

Natividad said the area was placed under surveillance for a week after an informant tipped them off about the items, allegedly smuggled.

He said the raid was a continuation of last month’s operation against South Luzon Steel Corp., which also resulted in the arrest of 11 persons, including five Chinese nationals.

Natividad said the five Chinese and their Filipino companions were released on bail.

CIDG chief Benjamin Magalong and Presidential Housing and Rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson personally went to the area to check the items.

Lacson ordered the CIDG to investigate and determine the brains behind the alleged smuggling of substandard construction materials.

He said the same items were also seized in Tacloban and Cavite recently.