On March 19th, Philippine police raided the 21st floor of the RCBC building, arresting over 200 people. However, the official report later reduced the number to 135. What happened to the rest? Were they dealt with specially, or did they become scapegoats?
By mistake, all 16 executives were caught!
Insiders revealed that on the day of the raid, a major industry company was holding a meeting on the 21st floor of RCBC, with all 16 executives present, including the station manager, the de facto CEO, and even a female CEO. The police were executing an arrest warrant for a robbery, but unexpectedly took down the core figures of the group, a real disaster from the sky.
RCBC was once a "safe haven" for the gambling industry
The RCBC building was once seen as a symbol of the gambling industry, known for being "legitimate" and "safe" compared to other controversial venues. The company paid taxes on time, implemented an 8-hour workday, and had almost zero negative news, considered the last safe haven of the industry. However, this raid undoubtedly sent a message: even the safest places are no longer safe.
Three top executives were named, where did the others go?
In the police report, three key figures were specifically named:
• Guge, head of Intech World company
• Layson, head of Omniach company
• Younger, head of Urban Ideas company
These three companies claim to be software development or data service companies, but are actually closely related to online gambling operations. The police have charged them with human trafficking, illegal gambling, and cybercrime.
It is intriguing that, according to insiders, among these three, one is a shareholder and two are station managers. Although they are Chinese, they hold passports from other countries! If these three have indeed renounced their Chinese nationality, then Chinese law does not apply to them!
And so long after the arrest, the information of these three "executives" was only released, making one wonder if there is something fishy going on.
1. Are these three being made scapegoats? Will they become scapegoats? Is this operation about sacrificing a few to save many?
2. Initially, over 200 people were arrested, but the report only mentions 135. Where did the others go? Have they negotiated a price for their release, or have they been urgently transferred to other countries?
3. According to insiders, among the three executives mentioned in the report, one is a shareholder and two are station managers. But according to news reports, the company's executives were in a meeting at the time of the raid. Who are the suspects not yet disclosed? Among the "disappeared" dozens, are there real executives?
And the real decision-makers, have they already evacuated, or are they still operating a "rescue"?
4. Will a large group abandon these people? Under industry crisis, many companies choose to "cut off" to protect core business. With RCBC breached, will a giant choose to abandon some executives to gain more room for survival?
RCBC falls, the end of the Philippine gambling industry?
This raid, unlike Cambodia's large-scale sweeps, the Philippines chose a more precise, lethal approach—striking at the industry leader. If even a place touted as "compliant" like RCBC can be breached, who's next?
• Can the storm be weathered? In the past few years, whenever there was a tight situation, some always hoped that "it will be fine once the storm passes." But this time is different, the target is directly at the core of the industry, it's not just a "routine inspection."
• Still hoping for new licenses to restart? Some hope for future policy relaxation, but from the current trend, the government's goal is not just regulation, but complete eradication of the entire illegal gambling system.
• Are you still waiting for the storm to pass? During the Sihanoukville storm, many thought they could survive, but ended up being swept out. Will the situation in the Philippines replay this scene?
Conclusion: Who will survive this storm?
The fall of RCBC is definitely not a normal law enforcement action. The political signal behind it is very clear, the Philippine government no longer tolerates the gambling industry's "old giants." If Cambodia's cleanup was a violent expulsion, the Philippines is using legal precision strikes.
The 135 people arrested, are they the enders of this storm, or just the first to be sacrificed? Can those unnamed really escape unscathed? This industry earthquake is still not over...
