Loren Legarda Absent Again as Impeachment Trial Continues
LOREN LEGARDA – Sen. Loren Legarda is set to miss another round of Senate proceedings after her office confirmed an extension of her medical leave.
Sen. Loren Legarda will miss another week of regular Senate sessions and the ongoing impeachment proceedings after extending her official medical leave, according to Senate officials. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed that Legarda would remain away from legislative activities at the beginning of the week. Her office submitted a letter informing the Senate of the extension.
“Senator Legarda will be on medical leave from 11 to 12 August 2026,” Bantug stated, quoting a letter sent by the senator’s office.
The latest leave marks Legarda’s second consecutive week away from the Senate. She was previously on medical leave from Aug. 3 to 5.
Her absence comes at a time when she is facing scrutiny from the Office of the Ombudsman, which is conducting a preliminary investigation into non-bailable plunder and graft complaints involving the senator and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has accused Legarda of allegedly using her position to help secure exclusive solar power franchises for Leviste. The allegations reportedly involve supposed multi-billion-peso losses described as “ghost electricity.”
Despite being away from the Senate floor, Legarda continued to make her position known on issues affecting Filipino workers, particularly those exposed to dangerous weather conditions.
She renewed her call for the passage of Senate Bill 520, also known as the proposed Calamity Work Compensation Act. The measure seeks to require employers to provide private-sector workers with an additional 30 percent of their daily wage when they are required to report onsite during severe weather conditions corresponding to Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Nos. 3, 4, or 5, or an equivalent level of calamity.
“If a worker is required to report for duty amidst a typhoon or flooding to maintain operations and ensure the continuity of service, it is only right to acknowledge and compensate for the additional risks and expenses borne by them. This must be accompanied by fair additional compensation and adequate protection,” Legarda said.
The proposed legislation would not replace existing hazard pay. It also does not seek to encourage employees to put themselves in unnecessary danger.
Instead of receiving additional cash compensation, employers may adopt a “Calamity Work Contingency Plan.” However, such a plan would need approval from the Department of Labor and Employment and the agreement of workers’ representatives. It could provide employees with transportation, temporary shelter, meals, and workplace safety protections.
Legarda also highlighted the risks faced by informal and platform-based workers. She cited the death of a delivery rider in Antipolo City who was reportedly seeking shelter from heavy rain when a falling tree and utility pole struck him.
Meanwhile, impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol said the proceedings would continue despite the absence of some senators, as long as the required quorum is maintained.
Tongol stressed that the impeachment trial depends on having enough senators present to constitute a quorum, rather than requiring perfect attendance from all members.
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