Loren Legarda’s Extended Leave Sparks Suspicion Amid Ongoing Ombudsman Probe
LOREN LEGARDA – Senator Loren Legarda’s repeated extensions of her medical leave have drawn fresh scrutiny from the Office of the Ombudsman amid an ongoing investigation.
The Office of the Ombudsman has raised concerns over Sen. Loren Legarda’s repeated extensions of her leave for medical reasons, saying the situation has become “suspicious” as she faces an ongoing investigation involving allegations of plunder and graft.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said Tuesday that the senator’s prolonged absence has drawn attention because of the complaints filed against her and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste.
The Ombudsman also revealed that Leviste had sought a two-month travel authority from the House of Representatives covering July 26 to Sept. 24. According to Clavano, authorities obtained a copy of the request, which indicated several countries that the lawmaker intended to visit.
“We were able to obtain a (copy of his) travel authority wherein he asked for two months of leave,” said Clavano in a press conference. “He listed several countries he would want to visit.”
However, Leviste remained in the Philippines on July 27, when he attended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address along with other members of the House.
Clavano also discussed Legarda’s travel authority, saying the senator had requested an extension until Aug. 19. She initially filed for medical leave on Aug. 3.
“Senator Loren Legarda, I believe, is in the third or fourth extension of her travel authority for medical reasons, which we have begun to find quite suspicious already,” Clavano said.
“To us, we want to err on the cautious side of things. We need to flag that already because they already have an ongoing case in the Ombudsman,” he said.
The investigation was announced by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on July 31, five days before Leviste’s intended leave. Legarda, Leviste, and former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi are being investigated over allegations involving solar energy contracts.
The Ombudsman said the three allegedly “conspired to secure exclusive government rights over the country’s solar energy resources through legislative and regulatory actions.”
The agency further claimed that “many of the projects were never developed as promised,” while terminated agreements reportedly left the government with more than P10.44 billion in unpaid financial obligations.
Remulla also alleged that Leviste could not have secured the exclusive contracts without his mother’s assistance, saying she “used her position so her son could get franchises.”
The preliminary investigation could eventually result in formal charges before the Sandiganbayan. Clavano said, however, that seeking a travel ban against Legarda and Leviste is no longer practical because they are already outside the country, making the matter moot.
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