MANILA – The Philippine Competition Commission on Thursday launched its Leniency Program, to encourage whistleblowers to cooperate with the antitrust monitor.
Those who will provide information on price-fixing, bid-rigging and output restriction will be offered immunity or reduced fines, said Competition Enforcement Office director Orlando Polinar.
“This policy is meant to ensure that members of a cartel will race to the PCC and disclose the existence of the anticompetitive agreement to obtain the benefits of the Leniency Program,” Polinar said.
The identity of the whistleblowers will be kept confidential and a team will handle information from them, he said.
Polinar said that giving “misleading information” is considered as a violation of the law.
Under the Philippine Competition Act, cartels can be fined up to P250 million while members can be imprisoned for a maximum of 7 years.
Those interest may contact PCC through their website phcc.gov.ph or e-mail at leniency@phcc.gov.ph or our Leniency Hotline at (02) 7719-777. (ABS-CBN News)
