Sen. Loren Legarda and her son, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, have traveled to France as both face a preliminary investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman over multibillion-peso solar projects, according to National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag.
Matibag said the two left the Philippines on Aug. 2, traveling through Hong Kong before continuing to France. Their departure comes as government investigations involving Leviste’s solar businesses continue.
On July 31, the Office of the Ombudsman placed Legarda, Leviste and former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi under preliminary investigation over complaints alleging plunder, graft and conflict of interest involving about ₱10 billion in solar projects. The case remains at the preliminary investigation stage, where prosecutors determine whether sufficient grounds exist to file criminal charges.
Part of the inquiry focuses on solar companies linked to Leviste and questions surrounding government-issued energy rights and obligations. Solar Para sa Bayan Corp., founded by Leviste, was granted a 25-year congressional franchise in 2019 to operate renewable energy microgrids in underserved areas. Separately, the Department of Energy has pursued action against Leviste over the company’s alleged failure to meet franchise requirements and imposed a ₱24-billion penalty on another Leviste-linked solar firm over alleged undelivered power commitments.
Legarda has dismissed the allegations against her as baseless. She previously abstained from voting on legislation involving her son’s franchise, citing conflict-of-interest concerns.
The NBI’s confirmation also came after Leviste did not appear Thursday in response to a separate bureau subpoena tied to its fact-finding investigation into an alleged “honey trap” scheme to implicate Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. Instead, Leviste’s lawyers requested documents outlining the scope of the inquiry. Leviste has denied involvement in the alleged plot.
