Legarda Camp Challenges Ombudsman’s P10.4 Billion Probe, Citing No Government Funds in Solar Ventures

Legarda Camp Challenges Ombudsman’s P10.4 Billion Probe, Citing No Government Funds in Solar Ventures

By TheNATIONWEEK.com | September 14, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – The legal team representing Senator Loren Legarda and her son, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, vehemently contested the foundational premise of the Ombudsman’s P10.44 billion plunder and graft investigation. They assert that no public funds were disbursed to Leviste’s solar energy enterprises.

Tony La Viña, spokesperson for Senator Legarda, questioned the inclusion of the senator in the ongoing preliminary investigation, emphasizing a lack of evidence linking her official position to her son’s renewable energy contracts. “This is political. There are no criminal acts being alleged here,” La Viña stated.

The rebuttal follows the submission of counter-affidavits by Legarda and Leviste, responding to the Ombudsman’s inquiry into alleged irregularities concerning solar energy projects. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla had previously indicated that the cases against the mother and son involve over P10 billion in alleged obligations tied to uncompleted solar projects.

No Government Money Involved, Monopoly Claims Disputed

La Viña adamantly maintained that the charge of plunder is inapplicable, as, according to him, the solar projects received no government funding. “In all of Leandro’s contracts, the government did not release any money,” he asserted.

Furthermore, La Viña refuted allegations that Leviste established a monopoly within the renewable energy sector. He highlighted that Leviste’s companies hold 26 out of 517 solar service contracts, representing approximately five percent of the total. Across the broader renewable energy landscape, with about 1,290 service contracts, Leviste’s share is roughly two percent. “There are no government funds, no government property, and no monopoly here,” La Viña emphasized. “You cannot call five percent of service contracts a monopoly.”

The Ombudsman’s allegations center on corporations linked to Leviste and Legarda purportedly securing multiple exclusive solar energy service contracts, allegedly leading to a “virtual monopoly” and “ghost electricity.” Remulla previously stated that the government suffered losses due to undelivered contracted renewable energy capacity.

Distinguishing Penalties from Probe

La Viña also sought to differentiate the Ombudsman’s investigation from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) penalties involving Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. (SPPHI). The DOE initially announced penalties totaling approximately P24 billion against Solar Philippines for failing to meet commitments under renewable energy service contracts. This figure was later revised to around P10 billion.

La Viña clarified that the P24 billion figure was not a personal penalty imposed on Leviste, underscoring that he is no longer the majority owner of SPPHI, which is now primarily owned by Meralco. Leviste, he noted, may only retain a minority stake. He acknowledged that Leviste’s own companies incurred fees for undelivered projects, but claimed these amounted to less than P100 million and have already been settled.

The DOE had previously terminated contracts covering approximately 12,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity due to non-performance and referred the matter to the Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice for potential legal action. As of early September, the DOE reported recovering only P80 million from the initial P24 billion penalty imposed on SPPHI.

La Viña reiterated, “There’s no evidence of any kind of influence that [Senator Legarda] did for Leandro to get these contracts or this franchise.”

The Ombudsman announced in July its preliminary investigations into plunder and graft allegations against Legarda and Leviste concerning solar energy contracts. The probe aims to examine allegations of conspiracy to obtain contracts and create a virtual monopoly in the renewable energy sector. Separately, the DOE filed a complaint against Leviste and officials of Solar Para sa Bayan over alleged failures to fulfill obligations under a congressional franchise for renewable energy microgrids.

Senator Legarda’s Medical Leave and “Lawfare” Claims

La Viña also addressed questions surrounding Senator Legarda’s extended medical leave, affirming that the senator is adhering to Senate rules and requires treatment for her illness. “They are not hiding,” he stated, adding, “I only know, as officially known by the Senate, that Senator Loren is on medical leave.” He emphasized that her Senate colleagues are aware of her health condition, and it is her right to seek necessary medical treatment.

The Ombudsman had previously questioned the prolonged overseas absence of Legarda and Leviste amidst the investigation. La Viña believes the complaints constitute “lawfare,” or the weaponization of the legal system for political objectives. “I believe in the rule of law. And this is not the rule of law. This is weaponization of the law for political purposes,” he concluded.