A spokesperson for Sen. Loren Legarda went before digital media to flatly deny plunder and graft charges filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against the senator and her son, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, calling the allegations "baseless" and "ridiculous" and insisting that financial records disprove the accusations tied to Leviste's solar energy business ventures.
Atty. Antonio "Tony" La Viña, speaking on behalf of the Legarda camp, urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to audit its own files and correct what he described as fundamental errors embedded in the complaint, while also questioning the grounds on which Legarda was named a respondent.
Spokesperson Insists No Government Money Was Taken
"No money from the government was taken and pocketed by Senator Loren or Representative Leandro. There is no plunder. No government funds were taken in any of the projects. That should be very clear to us," La Viña said, speaking in Filipino.
According to La Viña, all renewable energy projects under scrutiny were financed with private capital. He argued that a project failing to materialise does not automatically constitute plunder or graft, explaining that renewable energy service contracts typically cover exploration and pre-development phases, with investors bearing the financial risk if a project does not proceed.
DOE Demand Letter Directed at Meralco-Linked Firm, Not Leviste
La Viña addressed the multibillion-peso financial obligations that have been publicly linked to Leviste, clarifying that those amounts involved separate corporate entities. He said any obligations legitimately assessed against Leviste's companies had already been fully paid.
The spokesperson pointed out that a DOE demand letter was addressed to Emmanuel Rubio of SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) — a company he said has been majority-owned and controlled by Meralco's power generation arm, MGen, since 2024 — and not to Leviste or his affiliated firms. La Viña called on the DOE to clearly distinguish SPNEC from Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. and other Solar Philippines entities.
"The receipts clearly show that their letter asking for 24 billion to be paid, which they later revised to 10 billion, was addressed to Mr. Emmanuel Rubio, not to Leandro Leviste and not to his companies," La Viña said in Filipino.
Solar Para sa Bayan Franchise Said to Have Lapsed Automatically
La Viña maintained that the Solar Para sa Bayan franchise was non-exclusive and had automatically lapsed under a revocation provision in the law after it failed to become operational. He placed responsibility on the government, saying the DOE never issued implementing rules for the franchise and never designated areas where the company could operate.
The spokesperson further rejected claims that Leviste had monopolised solar service contracts, noting that the 42 contracts awarded to Leviste's firms represented only a fraction of the 518 solar service contracts issued across the country.
Camp Questions Basis for Including Legarda in Probe
La Viña said Legarda had no hand in managing her son's business operations and did not deploy her position as a senator to advance those interests. He argued that being a parent does not establish legal participation in a child's corporate dealings or financial obligations.
"There's nothing in the charges of the Ombudsman that includes Senator Loren Legarda. So why was she included?" La Viña said, describing the proceedings as unfair and calling on authorities to produce evidence of her direct involvement in any alleged wrongdoing.
La Viña also disputed reports that both Legarda and Leviste filed their counter-affidavits late, saying their submissions were made within the prescribed period. "For those who don't believe or are skeptical, I just ask for an open mind. Ask for receipts. We have receipts," he said.
Ombudsman Opened Preliminary Inquiry on July 31
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on July 31 that his office had commenced a preliminary investigation into Legarda and Leviste on charges of plunder and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The complaint alleges that the two used legislative and regulatory influence to secure solar energy contracts, with the value of unfinished solar projects placed at P10.44 billion.
Remulla has indicated that Legarda may have leveraged her position as chair of the Senate finance committee to help her son obtain the franchise. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, for his part, has stated that the office's decisions rest strictly on evidence.
In a statement dated August 18, Legarda denied any wrongdoing, saying she had committed "absolutely no wrongdoing" and appealing to the public to be discerning about the timing and nature of the allegations.
Arrest Warrant Issued Against Leviste in Separate Legal Matter
Both Legarda and Leviste departed for France on August 2, just days after the Ombudsman announced the investigation. Legarda has been on medical leave since then, with her most recent extension running through October 9. La Viña has said she is undergoing treatment for a lung condition, with Leviste serving as her caregiver, and has not ruled out her return to the Senate by November.
On October 5, Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 235 issued a warrant of arrest against Leviste for an alleged violation of the Public Service Act, with bail fixed at P72,000. That case is separate from the Ombudsman probe. The DOE had filed an earlier complaint with the Department of Justice against Leviste and Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. officials over the same law in May.
By the Numbers
- P10.44 billion — reported value of incomplete solar projects at the center of the Ombudsman complaint
- P24 billion — original amount cited in the DOE demand letter, later revised downward
- P10 billion — revised DOE demand figure, addressed to SPNEC's Emmanuel Rubio
- 42 — solar service contracts awarded to Leviste's companies
- 518 — total solar service contracts issued nationwide
- P72,000 — bail amount set by Makati RTC Branch 235 in the Public Service Act case
- July 31 — date Ombudsman Remulla announced the preliminary investigation
- October 5 — date the Makati court issued the arrest warrant against Leviste
Why This Matters
The Ombudsman's preliminary investigation into a sitting senator and a sitting congressman over allegations connected to billions of pesos in solar energy contracts is among the more consequential graft probes involving elected officials in the current legislative period. The case raises questions about oversight of renewable energy service contracts and the DOE's ability to distinguish between related but legally separate corporate entities. A court-issued arrest warrant against Leviste in a separate case adds further legal pressure on the family even as both principals remain abroad.
Source: Rappler