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“Radioactive material” was found at some sites at the steel manufacturing plant raided by the authorities over the weekend in Misamis Oriental, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) said on Tuesday.

“The raw materials [of the steel plant] have matched the presence of naturally-occurring radioactive thorium,” PNRI radiation safeguards and security specialist Teresa Salabit told reporters through teleconference at a press briefing in Camp Crame.

“The radioactive materials that are present in the site have already been contained, have been marked, and will be turned over to the authorities as evidence,” she added.

The steel manufacturing plant in Tagoloan town, belonging to the Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation, was raided by authorities last Friday, arresting 69 Chinese and a Filipino who were allegedly running the operation.

Physically present at the briefing, citing Sanjia’s articles of incorporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag noted that the company began operating on Oct. 17, 2018.

The preparations of the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial is in full swing as the team seeks to secure her conviction in the high-stakes proceedings — which may end in Duterte being barred from holding public office.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said that the 11-man prosecution team is in the process of preparing for the Senate’s pre-trial process and full-blown proceedings, adding that its members have been assigned the impeachment articles that they will discuss.

“Rest assured, that the 11 prosecutors are already in full swing of preparation,” Luistro told reporters at the Batasang Pambansa complex.

The impeachment trial against Duterte is the latest development in the country’s turbulent political scene, as she plans to mount a presidential bid in 2028.

On Monday, the Senate convened as an impeachment court for the trial of Duterte, who faces accusations of unexplained wealth, bribery, misusing confidential funds and threats to have President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his family assassinated in the case she, herself, was killed.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua said the House prosecution panel is ready to perform its constitutional mandate and present evidence before the Senate impeachment court in the trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.

Chua, one of the 11 members of the House prosecution panel, issued the statement after the Senate convened as an impeachment court for the trial of Duterte, who faces allegations involving misuse of state funds, unexplained wealth and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials.

“We acknowledge the convening of the Senate impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte,” Chua, a member of the House Committee on Justice and who chairs the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, stated.

“As members of the House prosecution panel, we look forward to performing our mandate under the Constitution with seriousness, discipline and respect for the process,” he added.

The convening of the impeachment court came after weeks of political tension in the Senate, including a leadership change and controversy over Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a Duterte ally wanted by the International Criminal Court in connection with the previous administration’s drug war.

The operation of a passenger bus firm has been suspended for 30 days by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) after one of its buses was involved in a road crash along Edsa busway on Tuesday. 

In a statement on Tuesday, LTFRB said that the suspension of Baclaran Metrolink Bus covers 18 of its units. 

The agency noted that the incident occurred around 5:15 a.m. on Monday at the southbound lane of Kamuning Station. Citing the driver’s testimony, the LTFRB said that it appeared to be a miscalculation as the bus crashed on the right side of the barrier while the driver was looking at the left side of the mirror. 

The road crash resulted in 12 damaged concrete and plastic barriers.

With this, the LTFRB also issued a show cause order (SCO) to the operator and owner of the bus firm for them to explain why their driver should not be penalized over the incident. They are directed to attend a hearing for the case on May 28, 2026.