About the RCBC Incident: Some Genuine Thoughts

First, the RCBC incident should really alert everyone: the Philippines is no longer a place where one can feel safe working in an office building, as any sense of security is purely an illusion.

The raid on the 21st floor of RCBC was no coincidence; it's clear there was an insider within AG. PAOCC used the pretext of searching for a fugitive to obtain a search warrant, then pinpointed the 21st floor where the executives were coincidentally meeting. How could it be so precise? Those familiar with AG know they have many offices, so why did the incident occur precisely at this spot, on this floor, during this meeting time? Moreover, the media was conveniently on site, with a ready-made reason of capturing a fugitive. Obviously, this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision; someone must have leaked the information hours in advance.

Ordinary employees wouldn't know where the executives were meeting, let alone report it in advance, so it's crucial to investigate who this "insider" is and in which department they are located.

Secondly, regarding the matter of rescuing people—this was a spectacular failure.

The individuals were detained for a whole day and night and were not rescued, making it even more difficult after being transferred to Sunshine. Embarrassingly, the news that came out even indicated that the executives were not rescued. This suggests that the company's legal and public relations teams are utterly ineffective, and it's very likely that the "insider" is in one of these two departments, as they are the ones most likely to be "taking kickbacks."

If they truly cannot be rescued, I suggest finding a way to send these Chinese executives to a third country through "unofficial channels" as soon as possible, and then repatriate them from there. Otherwise, once the Chinese officials get involved, it will be too late to handle anything.

Moreover, it would be best if other branch teams handle this situation, because frankly, there might be people within the company waiting to "profit from the disaster" and do not wish for these executives to return.

Thirdly, a sincere suggestion: companies still in the Philippines should really consider withdrawing.

Stop fantasizing about "just enduring a bit longer." Looking across Southeast Asia, except for small countries like Papua New Guinea and Brunei, almost everywhere is better than the Philippines. Especially for companies like AG that already operate remotely and use cloud desktops, wouldn't it be better to work from home? If investigated, just close the laptop and everything disappears. Why sit in a building waiting for it to be stormed?

The current situation in the Philippines:

You can be arrested on any fabricated charge;

Prices are high, food is bad, and public safety is almost as bad as Cambodia;

The small Ma administration promotes populism and anti-Chinese sentiment, making visas difficult and foreign investment policies unfavorable;

Even small businesses are subject to random inspections, not to mention industries like BC.

Honestly, with such conditions, why would you stay? Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia—any of these would be better. Since all operations can be remote, if one day it becomes legal, then consider moving back, but there's no need to cling to the fixed assets here.