The Department of Justice clarified on Thursday that Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste has not been formally declared a fugitive from justice, contradicting National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag’s characterization of the lawmaker.
DOJ Officer-in-Charge Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Herbert Calvin Abugan explained that authorities must first complete the required legal procedures before officially classifying the congressman as a fugitive. Leviste has an outstanding arrest warrant over an alleged violation of the Public Service Act.
“There’s a process that needs to be followed before we can declare him a fugitive from justice,” Abugan said during a press conference.
He added that the court must first give Leviste an opportunity to appear before it before authorities determine their next steps.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida also stressed that Leviste must return to the Philippines and submit himself to the court’s jurisdiction following the issuance of the arrest warrant.
“He needs to submit to the jurisdiction of the court. So, kailangan siya umuwi,” Vida said, stressing that court orders must be respected and followed.
He explained that prosecutors would determine the appropriate legal steps to bring the accused under the court’s jurisdiction.
The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 235 issued an arrest warrant against Leviste in connection with a Department of Energy complaint involving Solar Para Sa Bayan Corp., which was accused of failing to fulfill its congressional franchise obligations to provide electricity to remote and underserved communities.
The court set Leviste’s bail at ₱72,000 and scheduled his arraignment for Oct. 26. The congressman remains abroad after leaving the Philippines on Aug. 2. His spokesperson, lawyer Tony La Viña, said Leviste plans to return once his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, completes her medical treatment.
Matibag also initially announced that Leviste had posted the ₱72,000 bail. He later corrected his statement, acknowledging that the payments were made by the congressman’s two co-accused, Hazel Iris Lafuente Buencamino and Irma Flaminiano, who each posted ₱72,000. Leviste himself had not posted bail as of Oct. 8.
