Legarda, Leviste leave country amid plunder, graft raps

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Leandro Leviste (Batangas, 1st District) and his mother Sen. Loren Legarda left the country on August 2 on separate flights, the Bureau of Immigration confirmed Friday, August 7. Leviste and Legarda flew out of the country four days before the former was subpoenaed to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for its ongoing probe into an alleged scheme to frame Executive Secretary Ralph Recto with false sexual abuse and drug allegations. Their travel also came days after the Ombudsman announced plunder and graft complaints against them. "The office confirms the departure of Sen. Loren Legarda and Rep. Leandro Leviste in separate flights last August 2. Both had no derogatory records at the time of departure," BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said. Nothing barred the senator and congressman from traveling out of the country, as complaints under preliminary investigation at the Ombudsman do not automatically trigger a travel ban. The Ombudsman would have to request a hold departure order first from the courts before any travel restrictions can be put in place. NBI Director Melvin Matibag has confirmed the departures separately, saying Legarda and Leviste both flew via Hong Kong on different flights with France as their final destination. On July 31, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he had signed the charge sheet setting a preliminary investigation into complaints of plunder, graft and conflict of interest against Legarda, Leviste and former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. Investigators alleged the three conspired to monopolize the country's solar energy resources through legislative and regulatory action. According to the Ombudsman, many of the awarded projects were never built. Legarda called the accusations baseless and said no public funds were involved, adding that she expected to be vindicated once the facts came out. Besides the case with the Ombudsman, Leviste is also one of the subjects of the NBI's current investigation over a recently reported honeytrap plot that targeted Recto. The scheme reportedly involved P5 million to recruit four women to falsely claim Recto forced them into sex and illegal drug use. Leviste and former Negros Oriental congressman Jacinto “Jing” Paras have been accused of planning and financing the plot. Both have denied the allegation. Yesterday, Leviste did not appear before the bureau and sent lawyers instead. The NBI has given him another chance to appear on August 11. Legarda, meanwhile, has been absent from the Senate for three straight days, including the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. told reporters Legarda's chief of staff wrote on August 3 informing his office that she would be on medical leave from August 3 to 5. Recto and Leviste have been feuding since May, when Leviste used a House speech to publicly accuse the executive secretary of corruption and vote-buying. The House eventually voted to strike Leviste’s speech from its records. Information Source: Philstar Nation