AG held an emergency meeting today, internally notifying all employees to evacuate Manila in the short term, while confirming that its well-known entertainment venue "Longmen" has temporarily ceased operations. As a leading company in the Philippine gaming industry, AG's movements have always been closely watched. The news has caused a stir in the industry—has AG broken off negotiations with the Philippine government and decided to abandon its long-term plans in Manila?
What is more worrying is whether the 135 AG employees previously detained in "Sunshine Prison" still have a chance of being released? If the news is true, even the industry benchmark chooses to retreat, will other companies and practitioners dare to continue to hold on?
AG evacuation? Has the industry winter arrived?
According to submitted information, AG has instructed its employees to evacuate Manila in the short term, and its entertainment venue "Longmen" has already suspended operations. Over the past period, the Philippine government has continuously escalated its regulation of the gaming industry. Although AG, as an industry giant, has always tried to maintain stability, the sudden news of evacuation has led the public to widely speculate—AG may have broken off negotiations with the government, ultimately having to make the decision to retreat.
Manila was once the core stronghold of the gaming industry, but now the situation has taken a drastic turn. If AG really withdraws, it means that the industry's "sense of security" has completely collapsed. Will there still be companies willing to continue to delve deep into the Philippines?
135 AG employees arrested, have they become expendable?
Since the raid on the RCBC building, 135 AG employees have been sent to "Sunshine Prison" and have not been released to date. The industry has been paying attention to whether AG would make a move to rescue them, but now that the company itself has announced its withdrawal, the fate of these employees is even more uncertain.
It is well known that the Philippines' "Sunshine Prison" is notorious for long-term detention without trial, and many who enter can only wait for deportation or even disappear without a trace. If AG really withdraws, have these arrested employees become "expendable"? Will their fate be like some of the industry personnel arrested in the past, indefinitely detained and ultimately disappearing without a trace?
If AG withdraws, will an industry resignation wave arrive?
AG has always been considered the "safety benchmark" of the industry, with a relatively stable operating model and government relations. However, now that even AG has chosen to retreat, it will inevitably trigger a large number of industry practitioners to reassess the risks.
Possible consequences include:
• Intensified wave of employee resignations: Many practitioners may prepare to leave the Philippines in advance to avoid becoming the next "arrestee".
• Collapse of investment confidence: AG's withdrawal may cause more companies to reassess the feasibility of the Philippine market, or even choose to relocate their businesses to other regions.
Discern the truth of the news, has the storm arrived?
Currently, the news has not been officially confirmed, and everything is still under further observation. However, it is certain that the Philippine gaming industry is experiencing unprecedented turmoil, and all practitioners still stationed in the Philippines need to be vigilant and reassess their own risks.
What will the future hold? Will AG really withdraw? Will the 135 employees be rescued? Will the Philippine gaming industry face a major reshuffle? We will continue to monitor!
