Justice Department office to go after cartels

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has created an anti-monopoly office under the Justice Department to go after cartels and to advocate competition in domestic and international trade.

Mr. Aquino created the Office for Competition in an executive order signed on June 9, tasking it to investigate all cases involving violations of competition laws and to prosecute violators to “prevent, restrain and punish monopolization, cartels and combinations in restraint of trade.”

He tapped Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to head the office, which will have technical experts, consultants and resource persons.

“There is a need to promote competition and level the playing field in the market,” Mr. Aquino said.

He said the office would also supervise competition in the markets by ensuring that prohibitions and competition laws are followed.

The competition office will monitor and carry out measures to promote transparency and accountability in markets.

The President had earlier ordered an evaluation of the acquisition by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. of 51.55-percent of Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc. after competitors and consumer groups questioned the deal.

The deal reportedly will give PLDT some 70 percent of the domestic mobile market.

Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc., which holds about 30 percent of the mobile market, had objected to the deal, saying it would create a playing field highly favorable to PLDT and giving it a monopoly. Joyce Pangco Pañares, Manila Standard Today