Senator Legarda, son face plunder, graft raps over solar projects

Senator Loren Legarda and her son, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, are facing plunder and graft complaints over solar energy projects, the Office of the Ombudsman announced on Friday, July 31. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla stated that the complaints are currently in the final stages of a preliminary investigation, after which prosecutors will decide whether to file them in court. The charges include violations of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, specifically Sections 3(e), 3(h), and 3(i), which pertain to causing undue injury to the government or private parties, and conflict of interest. Remulla had previously mentioned in January that Leviste was being investigated for allegedly "flipping" his firm, Solar Philippines, to tycoon Manny Pangilinan after securing a franchise to establish solar microgrids in select provinces during the Rodrigo Duterte administration. "A franchise shouldn't be made into a business. He’s so young yet he’s selling a franchise, has he no shame? What kind of Filipino are you?" Remulla had said, adding, "National franchise, renewable energy, critical to national life and then you sell just like that? You sell it, you flip it. And your mother is even a senator." Leviste’s company, Solar Para Sa Bayan Corporation, was granted a franchise to operate solar microgrids nationwide by Republic Act No. 11357, signed into law on July 31, 2019. In January, Leviste denied taking advantage of the franchise for personal gain, stating, "I did not sell any franchise where I earned a profit." This development raises concerns about transparency and potential conflicts of interest in the renewable energy sector in the Philippines, a country actively seeking foreign investment for infrastructure development and a transition to cleaner energy sources.