The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), created under Republic Act No. 10667 (Philippine Competition Act), has the power undertake inspections to prevent the removal, concealment, tampering with, or destruction of books, records, or other documents. The inspection order, which must be issued by the proper court, is covered by the Rule on Administrative Search and Inspection under the Philippine Competition Act (“Rule”) issued by the Supreme Court (A.M. No. 19-08-06-SC). Here is a summary/primer of the Rule. 

COVERAGE OF THE RULE; USE OF INFORMATION

The Rule shall govern the application, issuance, and enforcement of inspection orders for administrative investigations of alleged violations of the Philippine Competition Act, its implementing rules and regulations, and other competition laws. 

The information collected pursuant to the inspection order shall be used only in administrative proceedings for violations under the Philippine Competition Act and other competition laws. Information includes the following, which relate to any matter relevant to the administrative investigation:

• Books, tax records, documents, papers, accounts, letters, photographs, objects or tangible things;

• Databases and means of accessing information contained in such databases; and 

• Electronically stored information, which refers to any writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, sound recordings, images and other data, metadata, or data compilations temporarily or permanently stored in any electronic medium from which information can be obtained either directly or, if necessary, after conversion into a reasonably usable form or in the form that it is ordinarily maintained.

The availment of an inspection order shall not prevent the PCC from exercising its powers under existing laws and rules, including applying for search warrants under relevant rules.

THE INSPECTION ORDER

An inspection order is an order in writing issued in the name of the Republic of the Philippines, signed by a judge, upon application of the PCC, authorizing the PCC and any law enforcement agency that may be deputized by the PCC to assist in the execution of the order, to search and inspect business premises and other offices, land and vehicles, for information to be examined, copied, photographed, recorded, or printed, in order to prevent the removal, concealment, tampering with, or destruction of such information. 

As a rule, the conduct of inspection is limited to the matters set forth in the inspection order. However, if the PCC, in the course of implementing the inspection order, inadvertently discover other relevant information in plain view that they believe on reasonable grounds to be evidence of a violation of the Philippine Competition Act, its implementing rules, or other competition laws, then they may examine, copy, photograph, record, or print such information and use the same as evidence of said violation. 

CONTENTS OF VERIFIED APPLICATION

The verified application for an inspection order, filed by the PCC with the proper court, shall contain a particular description of: 

• 1. the subject of the administrative investigation; 

• 2. the premises, other offices, land or vehicles, as used by the entity, sought to be searched or inspected; and 

• 3. the information sought to be examined, copied, photographed, recorded, or printed, and their relevance and necessity to the investigation. 

The application shall be acted upon by the court within 24 hours from its filing. The judge must, before issuing the inspection order, examine in the form of searching questions and answers, in writing and under oath or affirmation, the applicant and the witnesses he may produce:

• 1. on facts personally known to them; or 

• 2. on facts based on: (i) the applicant’s or witnesses’ training and/or experience; (ii) authentic records; (iii) verifiable data; or (iv) economic analysis. 

The examination of the applicant and the witnesses shall be recorded, and the sworn statements/affidavits shall form part of the record of the case. The hearing on the application for the inspection order shall be conducted ex parte and held in the chambers of the judge. Court personnel shall maintain the confidentiality of the application proceeding. 

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

The Special Commercial Courts in Quezon City, Manila, Makati, Pasig, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Davao City and Cagayan De Oro City shall have authority to act on applications for the issuance of inspection orders, which shall be enforceable nationwide.

The Special Commercial Courts in the judicial regions where the place to be inspected is located shall, within their respective territorial jurisdictions, have concurrent jurisdiction to act on the applications for the issuance of inspection orders. 

Where inspection of multiple locations is sought relative to the same investigation, an application may be made with any of the Special Commercial Courts in Quezon City, Manila, Makati, Pasig, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Davao City and Cagayan De Oro City and Special Commercial Courts in the judicial regions of the places to be inspected.

ISSUANCE OF INSPECTION ORDER

The inspection order shall be issued if the court finds that there is a reasonable ground to suspect: 

• 1. that the information is kept, found, stored, or accessible at the premises indicated in the application; 

• 2. the information relates to any matter relevant to the investigation; and 

• 3. the issuance of the order is necessary to prevent the removal, concealment, tampering with, or destruction of the books, records, or other documents to be inspected. 

An inspection order shall only be effective for the length of time as determined by the court, which shall not exceed 14 days, subject to an extension of another 14 days from the expiration of the original period. 

Within 3 days from the enforcement of the inspection order or after the expiration of the period provided under the inspection order, whichever comes first, the authorized officer of the PCC shall make a verified return to the court which issued the order. 

However, before a return is filed, the person or entity whose premises were inspected may file a written motion with the issuing court to quash the inspection order on the ground that it was improperly issued or implemented. 

SERVICE OF INSPECTION ORDER

The inspection order shall be served during business hours of the premises, or at any time on any day, as may be determined by the court for compelling reasons stated in the application. The following persons must be present:

• 1. A duly designated officer of the court; 

• 2. A person designated by the entity, either a compliance officer or a legal counsel, who shall be given the opportunity to read the order before its enforcement. 

Any person or entity who fails or refuses to comply with an inspection order or any provision of the Rule shall be cited for contempt of court, which procedures shall be governed by Rule 71of the Rules of Civil Procedure, insofar as they are applicable.

MANNER OF INSPECTION

The PCC officers, deputies, and agents shall enter, search and inspect the premises indicated in the order, and examine, copy, photograph, record, or print information described in the order. The PCC officers, deputies, and agents, if refused admittance to the premises after giving a notice of their purpose and authority, may use reasonable force to gain entry to the premises, land, vehicle, or any part of the building or anything therein, to enforce the inspection order. or to liberate themselves or any person lawfully aiding them when unlawfully detained therein.

Electronically stored information, databases, and means of accessing information contained in such databases that are kept, found, stored or accessed in the premises indicated in the order may be examined and copied by copying the information, whether through forensic imaging or other means of copying, photographing or recording the electronically stored information, or by printing out its contents. The PCC officers, deputies, and agents may likewise require that such electronically stored information and databases be produced in a form that is visible and legible, and may be copied, photographed, recorded, or printed out. Such copies, photographs, recordings, or printouts shall be considered and treated as original documents. 

The PCC officers, deputies, and agents may ask explanations on facts or documents relating to the subject and purpose of the inspection and record the answers. An individual, who may be assisted by counsel, must answer questions, although the answer may tend to establish a claim against him/her. However, such individual has the right not to give an answer which will tend to subject him/her to a criminal penalty for an offense, unless otherwise provided by law.

As may be reasonably necessary for the conduct of the inspection, the PCC officers, deputies or agents may secure or seal the area and equipment, gadgets or devices where the information is located or stored, and attach to them a tag or label warning all persons from tampering with them, until the examination, copying, photographing, recording, or printing is completed, but in no case beyond the effectivity of the inspection order. The act of tampering with, breaking or removing the seal affixed shall subject the offender to contempt of court, which procedures shall be governed by Rule 71 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, insofar as they are applicable. 

The person designated by the entity shall disclose to the PCC officers, deputies, and agents the location where the information subject of the inspection order is stored, and provide them with all reasonable facilities and assistance for the conduct of the inspection. 

The PCC officer shall prepare a list of the information copied, photographed, recorded, or printed. He/she shall give a copy of the same to the person designated by the entity.

• Such person shall have the opportunity to check the information against those described in the list and shall acknowledge receipt by affixing his/her signature. 

• Such person shall likewise certify that the copies, photographs, recordings, or printouts made by the PCC officers, deputies or agents are faithful reproductions of their respective originals. Once certified, the copies, photographs, recordings, or printouts shall be admissible as evidence for the purpose of the administrative proceedings. 

If the entity delays, fails, or refuses to designate a representative, the copies, photographs, recordings, or printouts shall be certified by the highest ranking officer or employee of the entity present in the premises.