Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

A Week Later

Michael sat at his desk, tapping his pen against a stack of reports, waiting for the inevitable. The PCC had been silent for days, and he knew that wasn't a good sign. When Juliet entered the room, two envelopes in hand, he didn't need to ask. He already knew what was coming.

"They've summoned you," she said, her tone neutral but firm. "The PCC and the Senate both want to see you."

Michael nodded, his face showing no surprise. He took the first envelope from her and opened it, reading the neatly typed letter from the Philippine Competition Commission.

He read through it, ordering his summons at October 5th, 1930. Also, there was another letter from the Philippine Senate, setting a separate date for his testimony at the Senate inquiry: October 12th, 1930. The back-to-back hearings were no coincidence. They were coordinating, likely at the behest of his competitors. Michael knew this was all part of a larger plan to corner him and Reyes Corporation. It was time to play the long game.

As he set the letters down on his desk, Juliet stood by, watching him. "Two hearings, one week apart," she said quietly. "The timing isn't good, but we've handled worse."

Michael rubbed his temples, the weight of the upcoming challenge already bearing down on him. "We'll need a full team on this—legal, PR, and finance. I want everything airtight, no gaps. The Senate hearing will be public, so we have to be sharp."

Juliet nodded, jotting down notes as Michael spoke. "I'll get the legal team to start preparing your testimony. The PCC will go straight for the numbers, acquisitions, and market share. We need clear evidence showing we're not monopolizing."

"Right. And the Senate?" Michael asked, already anticipating the next move.

"They'll try to make this political. Expect loaded questions about consumer impact, national interest, and corporate responsibility," Juliet said, her tone serious. "It'll be a show."

Michael leaned back in his chair. "Then we'll give them a show they won't forget."

For a moment, there was silence as Michael considered his options. He had faced challenges before, but this was different. Both the PCC and the Senate were turning the spotlight on him, and any mistake could cost him more than just money—it could cost him control.

"Get everything ready," he finally said. "I want to review our position by the end of the day. We can't afford to be caught off guard."

Juliet nodded and left the room, already making calls to gather the necessary teams. Michael sat back, staring at the letters on his desk. The countdown had begun.

Later that afternoon, Michael sat in the conference room with his legal counsel, Attorney Luis Montenegro, a seasoned expert in corporate law. Luis had handled many high-profile cases involving antitrust laws and was the go-to person for complex legal issues Reyes Corporation faced.

Luis leaned forward, his hands resting on a stack of legal documents. "Michael, we're in for a tough fight. The PCC will focus on Republic Act No. 10667, the Philippine Competition Act. Their goal is to determine if we've violated the rules on anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position, or anti-competitive mergers."

Michael nodded, familiar with the basics but needing the counsel's technical expertise. "I've gone through our position. I believe we're in the clear, but they're coming at us aggressively. What do you think we should focus on?"

Luis adjusted his glasses and started, "First, we need to establish that Reyes Corporation has not engaged in any 'abuse of dominant position,' as outlined in Section 15 of the Competition Act. This section is where they're likely to hit us hardest. They'll claim that our market share gives us an unfair advantage, but the law clearly defines what constitutes an abuse."

Luis flipped through the pages of his notes and continued, "We need to prove that our pricing strategies, product development, and acquisitions haven't unfairly excluded competitors. The key here is to demonstrate that we've enhanced market competition by improving efficiency, introducing innovations, and benefiting consumers, not by limiting the ability of other firms to compete."

"Do you think they'll try to say we're pricing out competitors?" Michael asked, leaning forward.

"They might. But under Section 15(c), predatory pricing is defined as selling products or services below cost to drive out competition, then raising prices once competitors are eliminated. We have to show that all our pricing strategies were based on normal competitive business practices, and more importantly, that they were sustainable without causing long-term harm to the market."

Michael nodded. "And what about the acquisitions? Will they try to claim those are anti-competitive?"

"They will," Luis said, flipping to another section. "Under Section 20 of the Competition Act, they'll review our mergers and acquisitions to determine if these deals significantly lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly. Our strategy here will be to highlight how these acquisitions have added value to the market, increased choices for consumers, and led to overall sector growth."

Luis paused before continuing. "We'll need a detailed report showing that these acquisitions didn't foreclose any market segments, but rather, brought in new efficiencies, services, and innovations that competitors were able to match or even improve upon."

"And the Senate hearing?" Michael asked. "That's going to be more public. What should I expect there?"

Luis sighed, thinking for a moment. "The Senate will focus more on the broader narrative—whether Reyes Corporation is becoming 'too powerful,' and how your influence is affecting the economy, particularly small businesses. Expect questions related to consumer protection under Republic Act No. 7394, the Consumer Act of the Philippines. They'll ask how our practices align with consumer welfare, particularly on issues of affordability and access."

Michael leaned back in his chair, processing the information. "So, we need to show that we're not just dominant, but that we've actually made the market better for consumers and competitors alike."

"Exactly," Luis confirmed. "You'll need to be ready to defend your company's growth and show that it hasn't come at the expense of fairness in the market. And remember, this isn't just about legality—it's about perception. The Senate will try to frame you as a threat to the economy, so we need to be firm but also balanced in our responses. Highlight the jobs you've created, the innovation you've fostered, and the benefits to Filipino consumers."

Michael nodded, feeling the weight of the upcoming battles. "Okay. Let's get everything ready for both hearings. I want all the documents lined up and rehearsals done by the end of the week."

Luis gathered his files and stood up. "I'll handle the legal aspects, but be prepared for the Senate to throw curveballs. This is going to be more political than anything else."

Michael stood, shaking Luis's hand. "I know. We'll be ready."