Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 380: The Legal CounselA 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 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.”