Recently, the raid on the RCBC building has caused a huge stir, from initial disbelief to widespread panic, with everyone feeling threatened. What's more, this incident is unlike any before!
The raid on RCBC, a harsh move by the Philippine government
As an established office building in Makati, the scale and impact of this operation far exceed previous ones. The police arrested 131 suspects, including 96 foreigners, on charges including human trafficking, illegal gambling, and cybercrime.
What is more shocking is that this was not a case of "settling with money" as usual. Executives were arrested, property managers disassociated themselves overnight, and the media extensively reported... The operation was a done deal, and there was no room left even for "negotiating a price" for release.
According to netizen leaks, RCBC property management has issued a notice, demanding related POGO-type businesses to voluntarily evacuate and prohibiting any further office operations there.
It is reported that the place raided belongs to the industry leader AG Group, whose reaction after the incident smelled of panic. Netizens speculated that on the night after the raid, the officials and AG did not agree on a price, thus only Filipino employees were released smoothly. Other employees, managers, and even executives were taken to "Sunshine Jail" (a place in the Philippines specifically for detaining foreign suspects) overnight.
After the incident, AG immediately issued an internal announcement, ostensibly to reassure employees, stating that the company had dispatched a strong legal team to follow up vigorously, and Filipino employees had been successfully released, while the situation of foreign employees was "actively being coordinated." However, it was clear to the discerning eye that this was just to stabilize the troops, and the "positive sentiment" in the announcement could not cover up the embarrassment at the scene.
Subsequently, rumors that the gambling enterprise AG Group would withdraw from Manila began to spread, but currently, there is a lack of authoritative information to confirm this.
The Philippine government has strengthened its regulation of the gambling industry in recent years, which may lead to increased operating costs or stricter measures, prompting some businesses to consider withdrawing.
However, in the absence of official confirmation, the rumors about AG withdrawing from Manila have not been confirmed. However, considering the above factors, the operating environment for gambling enterprises in Manila indeed faces unprecedented challenges.
