Antitrust in Asia: “Philippines: A new era under the Philippine Competition Act”

December 15, 2017

SyCipLaw partners Emmanuel M. Lombos, Arlene M. Maneja, and Franco Aristotle G. Larcina contributed the Philippine chapter of Freshfields’ Antitrust in Asia: The business impact of the fast-evolving competition laws. The chapter, entitled “Philippines: A new era under the Philippine Competition Act”, gives an overview on the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and its role in the implementation of the Philippine Competition Act (PCA). The article also enumerates a number of actions the PCC has done in reviewing mergers and non-merger cases as well as future actions to further enforce the PCA in the country.

Read the Philippine chapter at the Freshfields website.

Aside from the Philippines, jurisdictions covered include: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Emmanuel M. Lombos has acted as Philippine litigation counsel for, among others, the Government of the United States, First Pacific Group, Philip Morris International, Keppel Group of Singapore, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Corporation, IMPSA of Argentina, and BMW, as well as state-owned enterprises of various countries. He has argued and won precedent-setting cases for these and other major multinational corporations before the Philippine Supreme Court. Mr. Lombos has also acted as litigation counsel for various parties, including the Philippine Government and top U.S., European and Philippine corporations in various domestic and foreign arbitrations.

Arlene M. Maneja is part of the team that advises clients on the application of the Philippine Competition Act (PCA) and its implementing rules, with the focus ranging from contract review for potential antitrust risks to transaction structuring and compliance with merger notice requirements. Ms. Maneja and the team have conducted notifiability and substantive competition impact assessments in relation to proposed mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, and have filed merger notifications with the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).

Franco Aristotle G. Larcina specializes in investments, mergers and acquisitions, particularly in industries with FDI and nationality restrictions and in listed and public corporations. He was part of the team that represented clients before the PCC in relation to its ongoing review of a covered transaction, and managed responses to the PCC’s requests for additional information. Mr. Larcina and the team regularly provide advice on competition-sensitive matters including review of distribution agreements, licensing agreements, and non-competition contacts.