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The local National Bureau of Investigation clarified that the recent seizure of uranium-containing materials, initially reported to have occurred in Mandaue City, actually took place in Cebu City and Talisay City.
Arnel Pura, NBI chief in Mandaue, said Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, that the uranium was seized during the operations in Cebu City and Talisay City and not within Mandaue on Nov. 8 and 9.“I think they made a mistake there because they mentioned Mandaue as the location, but this actually happened in Cebu City and Talisay. They just got it wrong,” Pura said in Tagalog.He added, “The initial news mentioned Mandaue, but this was verified with the NBI. I told the NBI that the report was not factual since the operation took place outside Mandaue.”Pura further clarified that the operation was carried out by a composite team, including NBI offices from Manila, Cebu and Mandaue. “One of my agents was part of the operation, so I can confirm that this did not happen in However, Pura did not provide specific details about the locations in Cebu City and Talisay City that were raided or the amount of depleted uranium seized.The 60 kilograms of radioactive materials that were supposedly seized in Mandaue City tested positive for Uranium-238 and Uranium-235.Meanwhile, Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede has called on law enforcement agencies to ensure that these dangerous materials do not pass through or endanger their city.Bercede said that although Mandaue City was not involved in the operation, it remains a concern due to the proximity of Cebu City and Talisay City.He has urged law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to determine how the uranium entered the region and ensure its proper containment. City Administrator Jamaal James Calipayan, during the “Storya Ta! A Move to Good Governance and Transparency” forum with the media on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, said that the NBI contacted their office to clarify the operation’s location. “It is still alarming because radioactive materials could potentially pass through Mandaue,” Calipayan said.In a post of Mandaue City Public Information on Dec. 13, they explained the materials seized included Uranium-235 and Uranium-238, both of which carry significant health, environmental and security risks.Uranium-235 is fissile and can sustain nuclear chain reactions, making it valuable for nuclear reactors and weapons. Uranium-238, while less radioactive, can be converted into Plutonium-239, another substance linked to nuclear weapons.“We are still in limbo about how these materials got into the region and where they came from. Until the investigation is concluded, we must remain vigilant,” Calipayan said.While the uranium was not found in Mandaue, Calipayan emphasized the need for heightened caution.“We cannot afford to be complacent. These materials can still come in and out of Mandaue from Cebu City and Talisay City, and vice versa,” he added.Karla Victoria Cortes, Mandaue Public Information Office head, said during the forum that the Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office has activated its Eco-Watch platform to allow residents to report suspicious materials or environmental concerns.By engaging the public, officials aim to prevent similar incidents and protect local communities from potential hazards, Cortes said.Calipayan said that the full report from the NBI is still pending, but once completed, it will provide clarity on the origin and potential routes of the uranium materials.On Dec. 9, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said in a press conference that the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute sought their assistance in October to investigate the illegal sale of depleted uranium. The material, which poses significant threats to national security and public health, can be used as a source for nuclear weapons or in conventional armor-penetrating munitions.The investigation initially identified a group led by Roy Cabesas Vistal, which misrepresented the radioactive material as precious metals.An Oct. 18 entrapment operation in Pasay City led to the arrest of Vistal’s associate Mae Vergel Zagala and their agent Arnel Gimpaya Santiago. Authorities seized 20 kilograms of metal bars and three kilograms of black powder, all testing positive for Uranium-235 and Uranium-238.Subsequent searches at Vistal’s residence in Pasay revealed additional contaminated materials, including rock fragments, small metal items and three kilograms of black powder. The area was decontaminated after high levels of uranium contamination were detected.Vistal was apprehended in a manhunt operation in Cagayan de Oro on Oct. 28.The raid yielded a black pot weighing three to five kilograms and other radioactive items, all testing positive for uranium isotopes. Investigators traced the group’s uranium supply chain to Cebu, prompting the Nov. 8 and 9 operations in Cebu province.The arrested individuals will be charged with violation of RA 5207, as amended, otherwise known as the Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act of 1968, before the courts in Pasay City and Cagayan de Oro.
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