NEW RULE ON ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCH POWERS OF THE PHILIPPINE COMPETITION COMMISSION

On September 10, 2019, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued Administrative Matter No. 19-08-06-SC or the Rule of Administrative Search and Inspection under the Philippine Commission Act (“Rule on Administrative Search”) which became effective on 16 November 2019.
The Rule on Administrative Search intensifies the enforcement by the Philippine Competition Commission (“PCC”) of the Philippine Competition Act (“PCA”) and other competition laws, as it reinforces the ability of the PCC to detect, administratively investigate and prosecute persons and entities suspected of violating anti-competition laws by providing for guidelines on how the PCC may undertake dawn raids or inspection of business premises and other offices, land and vehicles (the “Premises”) to obtain and prevent the removal, concealment, tampering or destruction of relevant information which relate to any matter subject of administrative investigation by the PCC.

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